Aigra Nova mask carnival: an extraordinary traditional experience in central Portugal

Center of Portugal Portuguese tradition

A lot of people ask me what attracts you so much in Portugal? The first thing that comes to my mind is the people!

I'm in love with the views, the pace of village life, the great food and wine, but mostly with the people I got to know on my travels to Portugal. So kind, warm, connected to their tradition and proud of their customs.

Last September, I traveled with my family in the central region of Portugal around Lousã and we arrived at one of the four slate villages in Gois.

There we were exposed to ancient customs such as "making traditional bread", the impressive slate houses, the hospitable people and the story of the next carnival:

The carnival of the masks in the villages of Slate.

In the village of Aigra Nova every year, on the Sunday of Carnival in Portugal, people get up early and with great excitement.

In this small village, revelers gather at 8:30 a.m. to begin the Carnaval do Entrodo, a ritual that takes place every year. The celebrants go in groups to the other villages: Pena, Cerdeira, Esporão, Ponte de Sótão, and end up again in Igra Nova.

The goal is to pull "pranks" in every village they visit. "It makes the village laugh, takes a bit out of the routine," clarifies Jorge Lucas, a member of the board of directors of

The Shrovetide race of Aldeias do Xisto de Góis, started as a joke a few years ago and turned into a great tradition.

When the event began to attract more people from all over the country, Lusitnea decided to create participation regulations with a set of recommendations "to maintain rigor in the celebration of this tradition", as can be read on the association's website. The installation is based on oral records of the local population. Lusitnea warns that in order to "manage Shavuot" and be part of the group of celebrants, it is necessary to be strict in the way of participation. Therefore, they give tips on how to make your own cork mask and decorate it, how to dress in old clothes, covering your whole body.

Although there are no written or photographic records proving the use of cork masks in the past, what is certain is that "people just started wanting to wear cork masks", which became a territorial trademark of the Aldeias do Xisto de Gois.

There is even a local craftsman, José Cerdeira, who took this theme and started developing cork masks.

Some of the men's race dress in women's clothes and make cork masks made of tree bark

And women dress in men's clothes.

Basically, the intention of the celebrants is deception, laughter and pranks and it is important that they not be recognized.

In addition to disturbing the peace of the villages on this day, the revelers also have the task of "letting the genie out of the bottle", a phrase used by Manuel Claro that has already become a carnival tradition. The ceremony consists of taking a large, old metal funnel (used in wineries and wineries) and while beating with metal rods he must shout out loud the gossip collected during the year about the inhabitants of the villages.

After visiting all the villages, you arrived in Igra Nova, it's time to taste some of the best snacks in the area. The menu includes a mountain soup with meat, Bipanasoaspicheda. All accompanied by honey brandy from the region.

After lunch there is a dancer in the church square, accompanied by a concertina and bagpipes. Then comes the challenge of getting to the pork and the cod fish stuck on a stick over a small fire.

They invite all young people and athletes who want to jump over the fire to get the meat and the cod fish.

The Shrovetide race of Aldeias do Xisto de Góis ends with the Shrovetide bonfire, where a huge effigy of the celebrants is burned in a wide pasture, while the participants dance and play around the bonfire.

Aigra Nova mask carnival: an extraordinary traditional experience in the center of Portugal - just like that.

The photos are taken from the association's website:

Nice to meet you, I'm Ilanit, owner of ILANITRAVEL, a Portugal travel specialist. I accompany families, couples, and individuals in planning their perfect vacation.

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