The Portuguese people were drawn to Boston ports in the 1870s because of the need for workers in the whaling industry. Portuguese sailors took their families and their wives, who often found work as seamstresses. The migration spread into smaller towns like Stoughton. The second wave of Portuguese immigration came from the Azores, where in the 1950s, volcanoes exploded for months on end and families lost everything. The Portuguese have folk dances and types of partner dances that are still practiced at various Portuguese clubs spread all over Stoughton. Along with these dances, the Portuguese brought over a style of music called Fado which is native to their culture. This style of music was often performed at taverns and used to entertain and engage people in social events. The style is often described as haunting and soulful. The Immaculate Conception church in Stoughton, which offers services in Portuguese on certain days, has an annual Holy Ghost Feast with tons of food, celebration, dance, and music that all are invited to join. Dotted all over the town of Stoughton are at least 4 different Portuguese clubs, various Portuguese restaurants and bread shops, and even Portuguese corner stores.
Below is a clip of the Holy Spirit Parade in Stoughton organized by the Immaculate Conception Church. This parade includes a feast, a celebration of music and dancing, and includes religious services. The feast celebrates and expresses the love and faith in the Holy Spirit, and it originated with Queen Isabel the Sixth of Portgual.