Saint Anthony's cake Campo Grande carries in its name a strong connection with Saint Anthony, patron saint of the city and known throughout Brazil as the matchmaking saint. And the tradition remains firm: while thousands of faithful await the distribution of the famous Santo Antônio cake this Friday (13), the most recent figures from IBGE show that weddings continue to be part of the Capital's history. According to 2024 data from the IBGE Civil Registry, the latest survey available, 6,356 marriages were registered in Campo Grande throughout the year. In the same period, the city recorded 3,669 divorces, 3,406 of which were judicial and 263 extrajudicial. ✅ Click here to follow the g1 MS channel on WhatsApp The coincidence between the numbers and the proximity of the Santo Antônio festival reinforce a tradition that spans generations in the capital of Mato Grosso do Sul. Cake tradition brings together faith, hope and luck in love City of the matchmaker saint wants to unite 3 thousand faithful with alliances Reproduction/ TV Morena One of the most anticipated attractions of the Santo Antônio Festival is the distribution of the traditional matchmaker's cake. Popular belief says that whoever finds a ring hidden in the cake is lucky in their love life and may even get married soon. This year, 17 thousand pieces of cake will be produced, in a task force that brings together more than 100 volunteers. The production coordinator, Fernanda Corrêa, summarizes the recipe simply: "There's a lot of wheat, sugar, milk, sponge cake, love and faith." In addition to the pieces of cake, 3,000 symbolic rings will be hidden. Participants will also be able to find a pair of gold rings and even a voucher that will entitle them to a 60-inch TV. According to popular tradition, whoever finds one of the rings is lucky in love. Married people tend to look for rings as a way of renewing their commitment and strengthening their union. More than a tradition, a solidarity action In addition to the religious and cultural significance, the sale of cakes also has a social objective. The proceeds raised will go towards the construction of the São Miguel Community, in Vila Carvalho. For the organizers, the cake represents one of the most special moments of the party. "It is a moment marked by faith, devotion and the joy of being together as a community." Why is Saint Anthony known as a matchmaker? According to the tradition of the Catholic Church, Saint Anthony gained fame as a matchmaker for helping poor women in Italy, between the 12th and 13th centuries, to obtain the dowry necessary for marriage, something essential at that time. The faithful also turn to the saint for requests related to the family, the union of couples and causes considered difficult. The saint who gave rise to the city The connection between Campo Grande and Santo Antônio goes beyond religiosity. Historians report that the city's founder, José Antônio Pereira, made a promise to the saint during an expedition. If no one in his entourage fell ill, he would build a chapel in their honor. The promise was fulfilled and the location came to be called Arraial de Santo Antônio de Campo Grande. With the growth of the town and the emancipation of the municipality, in 1899, the name was simplified to Campo Grande. The image of Saint Anthony that remains in the Cathedral today is considered the same one brought by the city's founder. Distribution of Saint Anthony's Cake 📅 Date: June 13th 🕡 Time: from 6:30 am 📍 Location: Nossa Senhora da Abadia and Santo Antônio Cathedral, in Campo Grande 🚗 Collection: drive-thru system View of the city of Campo Grande, capital of Mato Grosso do Sul Silas Ismael Watch videos from Mato Grosso do Sul: