'Queima das Fitas 2025' Parade: fun, heat and tears
Thousands of Coimbra higher education students and around 100 floats took part in this unique Coimbra student tradition.
On Sunday morning, the uptown campus of the University of Coimbra (Pólo I) was buzzing with excitement. The traditional floats, adorned with flowers in the colours of the city's faculties and colleges, were preparing to kick off the 2025 Queima das Fitas (Burning of the Ribbons) Parade, the highlight of Coimbra's famous student festival. Outside the New Cathedral, a long queue had formed for the 'Grelo Burning', a tradition that many wanted to experience before finally releasing their colourful ribbons. The parade began at around 3 pm on 26 May.
The Queima das Fitas parade filled the streets with festive spirit, excitement and a touch of satire and criticism, as it made its way from the University of Coimbra’s Campus I to Largo da Portagem.
"My parents never experienced this, they don't have university degrees, I'm the first in my immediate family to go to university, so I think it's something they're very proud of," says Tiago Pereira, a student at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology at the University of Coimbra (UC). He adds: “The burning of the grelo marks the end of a cycle. It's so rewarding to realise that all my hard work has paid off.”
Get to know more about Queima das Fitas 2025 here.
