AP PHOTOS: Brazil's Cavalhadas festival celebrates the Holy Spirit

PIRENOPOLIS, Brazil (AP) — The heartland Brazilian city of Pirenópolis is hosting its annual Cavalhadas festival, a Holy Spirit celebration where participants ride horses, wear masks and don floral headpieces.

The tradition began in the 1800s with a Portuguese priest who wanted to celebrate the Holy Spirit — one of the entities of the Roman Catholic Church’s trinity — and also commemorate the victory of Iberian Christian knights over the Moors.

The festivities include an open-air reenactment of a battle between Christian warriors and Muslims. At the end, the defeated Moors are converted to Catholicism.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

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A reveler wears a hat and costume during the Cavalhadas, or Holy Spirit, Festival, in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

A Christian knight fires a gun during a battle reenactment at the Cavalhadas, or Holy Spirit, Festival in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Monday, June 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Masked revelers celebrate the hymn of the Divine Holy Spirit during the Cavalhadas Festival in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

A girl stands in front of the church of Our Lady of the Rosary during the Cavalhadas, or Holy Spirit, Festival, in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

A masked reveler rides a horse during in the Cavalhadas, or Holy Spirit, Festival in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

A reveler stands behind the flag of Our Lady of the Rosary at the Cavalhadas, or Holy Spirit, Festival, in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

A woman carries the flag of Our Lady of the Rosary during the Cavalhadas, or Holy Spirit, Festival in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Monday, June 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Girls pose for photos in front of the altar of the Divine Holy Spirit, during the Cavalhadas Festival in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Congregants leave Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary church during the Cavalhadas, or Holy Spirit, Festival in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Monday, June 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

A family wearing costumes attends the Cavalhadas, or Holy Spirit, Festival, in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

A reveler arrives to take part in the Cavalhadas, or Holy Spirit, Festival in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

A Christian knight rides a horse during a battle reenactment at the Cavalhadas, or Holy Spirit, Festival in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Monday, June 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Revelers participate in a procession of the Holy Spirit during the Cavalhadas Festival in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Revelers participate in the Cavalhadas, or Holy Spirit, Festival, in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

A masked reveler and his horse participate in the Cavalhadas, or Holy Spirit, Festival in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Moorish knights, in red, and Christian knights, in blue, ride horses during a battle reenactment at the Cavalhadas, or Holy Spirit, Festival in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Monday, June 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Masked revelers take part in the Cavalhadas, or Holy Spirit, Festival in Pirenopolis, Goias state, Brazil, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II announced Monday he is suspending his campaign for governor and instead joining the race for secretary of state of the battleground state.

Gilchrist, a progressive Democrat from Detroit, did not cite a specific reason for the change in his video announcement, but said he is not finished being a “public servant.” His departure clears up the Democratic primary and benefits the frontrunner, Jocelyn Benson, who is the current Secretary of State, in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The secretary of state is Michigan's top election official, a highly politicized and visible role since the 2020 presidential election.

“Michigan has been ground zero in the battle for free and fair elections before, and it will be again,” Gilchrist said.

As Whitmer’s second in command and her running mate in two elections, Gilchrist struggled to match Benson’s name recognition and fundraising. He reported having around $378,000 of cash on hand as of October compared to Benson’s $2.98 million.

Benson is now set to face only Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in the Democratic primary in August.

The inclusion of a well-known independent candidate has created a new problem for Democrats this year. Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is avoiding costly primaries altogether by running as an independent. The Michigan Democratic Party slammed the former Democrat last week for not standing up to President Donald Trump’s second term policies.

In the Republican primary, U.S. Rep. John James, former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, state Senate Leader Aaric Nesbitt and former Michigan House speaker Tom Leonard are jockeying for the nomination.

In his bid to become secretary of state, Gilchrist will face four other Democrats: Barb Byrum, Ingham County clerk; Aghogho Edevbie, deputy secretary of state; Suzanna Shkreli, a former Whitmer aide and commissioner of the Michigan State Lottery; and Adam Hollier, a former state senator from Detroit.

Michigan does not hold primary elections for the secretary of state position; the nominee is chosen by precinct delegates during party conventions. The Michigan Democratic Party convention is scheduled for April 19.

State Republicans plan to hold their nominating convention March 28 and GOP figures chasing the party's nomination for secretary of state include Anthony Forlini, Macomb County Clerk, and Monica Yatooma, an Oakland County executive.

In addition to the office of the governor and secretary of state, Michigan voters will be selecting a new state attorney general and a U.S. senator in November.

FILE - Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II waits before the State of the State address, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, file)