It is told that, long ago, two peoples lived by the Ferreira river. The Moors held the Serra de Cuca Macuca — today’s Serra de Santa Justa — and the Christians lived in the river valley. The Moors, or Mourisqueiros, mined gold in the mountains and were led by the Reimoeiro. The Christians, or Bugios, worked the land and were led by the Velho da Bugiada.
One day the Reimoeiro’s daughter fell gravely ill and no cure could be found. Her father turned to every sage and healer in vain, and fell into despair. Then he heard that the Bugios, the neighbouring people of Sobrado, venerated an image of Saint John the Baptist famed for its miracles — the very one that had once cured the Velho da Bugiada’s own daughter.
In desperation, the Reimoeiro asked the Bugios to lend him the image to intercede for his daughter. In solidarity the Bugios lent it — and Saint John worked another miracle: the girl was healed, to her father’s great joy.
In thanks, the Reimoeiro threw a feast — but refused to return the image to the Bugios. His ingratitude went further still: at the banquet, as an insult, he offered the Bugios his table scraps. They answered in kind. The pot had boiled over.
The Bugios claimed the image as theirs; the Moors refused to hand it over. War broke out. Messages passed between the tribes to make peace — to no avail. The Doctors of Law (each people’s lawyers) argued the law between them, but reached no accord. Shots were exchanged between the two stages and the mood boiled over.
When the Bugios ran out of powder, the Reimoeiro gathered his army, marched on the opposite stage and stormed it, capturing the Velho. Dismay and injustice reigned: the Bugios, who had lent the image out of kindness, now had neither the Saint nor their leader. Only divine intervention could save them.
It is then that the Bugios beg the help of Saint John, their protector, who once more does not abandon them. Recalling the Moors’ fear of monstrous figures, they conjure a Serpe to frighten them. They charge with it against the Mourisqueiros who, terrified, flee and release the Velho da Bugiada. In the end the original order is restored — and both peoples dance the Dança do Santo in honour of Saint John.
Source: legend as recorded on saojoaodesobrado.pt (Fábia Pinto, 2007).