The joy of carnival in Portugal

Hello everyone, for those who don't know I'm Portuguese. I'm Portuguese with pride 😀 I love Carnival and today I'm going to tell you a little about Carnival here in Portugal. I also love photography is one of my biggest passions, today I took my boyfriend's camera. The machine is a canon. The photographs were taken at the Ovar parade, which is my favorite in the north area, where I live. It's my favorite show because Ovar brings together the most beautiful in Brazil and the most beautiful in Portugal 😀

That Brazil is the country of samba, football and Carnival, everyone already knows. But the fact is that not only in Tupiniquim lands this popular festival is successful. Carnival in Portugal is appreciated from North to South of the country, as the revelry traditions are a registered trademark and, some say, it was the Portuguese who brought these traditions to Brazil

How is the carnival in Portugal?
Perhaps the street parades, with great participation from communities, associations and the population in general, are the main highlight of this period of the year.

Thus, those who walk along the avenues can see the famous floats, children, adults and elderly people wearing costumes, Portuguese popular music, traditional music, in addition to carts selling sweets and delicacies in general.

Even the Municipal Councils of each city end up disclosing on their websites or in the form of advertising material all the programming planned for Carnival. So there is no excuse not to join the party.

Also called Entrudo, because it is the cycle that precedes Spring, Carnival in Portugal takes place in winter. However, the joy and excitement with which people celebrate can make it seem like summer

What differences are there between the carnival in Portugal and the carnival in Brazil?
The songs can be the main difference. While in Brazil, more especially in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, the samba plot is the hottest thing, in Portugal the songs can be different

In Bahia, in Salvador, axé is still the most sung rhythm. Even so, many Brazilian songs are also part of the days of revelry in Portugal, like Ivete Sangalo, Claudia Leite, and many other famous singers

Another differentiating factor between the festivities in the two countries involves the days set aside for the festivities. If in Brazil, Carnival lasts for weeks (or weekends before the so-called holiday), in Portugal, Carnival days are respected with more criteria

Origin of Portuguese Carnival
For those who think that Carnival in Portugal imitates that of Brazil, the truth is that it is not, the celebrations began in the country at the time of the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, who celebrated, at this time of year, the rebirth of nature

Thus, Carnival emerged as a consecrated celebration, in honor of what would be the gods of fertility and light. The parties and rituals coincided with the preview of spring and were directly connected to the need for good harvests, in the fields and in the countryside.

Logically, according to the years, the meaning of Carnival has been changing and adopting new representations and more and more fans.

Places where carnival is most celebrated in Portugal:

• Ovar
  In Ovar, Carnival parties are aimed at different audiences: there is the children's Carnival, senior Carnival, masquerade ball and, even, the parade of samba schools.

Recognized as one of the best festivities in this region of Portugal, that is, in the Center-north, the Carnival of Ovar makes the perfect combination between what is most lively in Carnival in Brazil and in Portugal as well.

• Pondence
  At the Carnival of Pondence, the attraction is the caretos! Known as characters from the village of Pondence, the caretos are treated as figures who take to the streets of the village to scare away evil and purify the environment during Carnival. Thus, these figures dance, run, and end up making fun of whoever is single in the revelry.

The tradition was recognized in December 2019 by Unesco as an intangible heritage of humanity, one more reason why this village in the municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros has become popular

• Torres Vedras
  Located close to Lisbon, Torres Vedras has a strong Portuguese tradition in its Carnival.

The festivities date back to the 16th century, passed down from generation to generation, when the mask represented the subversion of rules and social classes. Thus, in Torres Vedras, the mask is a very used element in Carnival!

• Madeira
  On the other hand, on Madeira Island, there is a real mix of regional and modern carnival traditions. On the days of celebration, people find everything: masks, Carnival bands and even dances, like those that take place in Rio de Janeiro

That is, if the intention is to seek diversity, in Funchal you will find it. There are several parades: the Festa dos Compadres in the city of Santana, the children's Carnival, the Grande Parade Allegorico that attracts thousands of tourists to the Autonomous Region of Madeira, and the Cortejo Trapalhao

• Loule
  Located in the Algarve, Loulé is another municipality that values ​​Carnival, with blocks organized in the streets, sound cars and lively music - many of them Brazilian.

So famous is the Loulé Carnival that attracts more than 70,000 tourists a year. It is a good opportunity, therefore, to enjoy days of fun and revelry

I hope you liked it, see you soon friends 😀