Carnaval is Mardi Gras Portuguese style

The festival of Carnival —the period just before the Christian religious era of Lent – is a seriously fun endeavor throughout Portugal and attracts thousands of visitors each year. During Lent, Catholics abstain from eating meat. The term “Carnevale” means “to put away the meat.” Before Lent, a 40-day period of austerity for the faithful, people want to let their hair down—and they do! Costume contests, street parades, dance competitions, theatrical displays, special foods and music, floats and parties are part of the typical festivities of Carnival throughout Portugal.

In the Algarve region, traditional fishing boats are decorated to parade on the water. Towns such as Loulé, Quarteira, Alte, Paderne, Moncarapacho, Vila Real de Santo António, Monte Gordo, Tavira all stage lively parades, with samba groups, dances and music.

In the city of Funchal, on the island of Madeira, grilled swordfish and Madeira wine is served in abundance. Samba troupes flood the streets with music an merriment, including a street carnival that involves nearly everybody. A float parade will be held on February 21. After the parade is ball at the Praça do Município. On the last night, Tuesday, a parade of costumed caricatures takes place, followed by prizes for the best-dressed.

In the capital city of Lisbon, celebrations take place in the modern part of the city along the riverfront, with parades, dances and festivities throughout the week before Lent. Many events feature show business celebrities. Traditional Carnival festivities take place in this region in the towns of Alcobaça, Almeirim, Sesimbra, Nazaré, Samora Correira (Vila Franca de Xira) and Caldas da Rainha. In Leiria/Fátima, masked children and adults take place in carnival parades from Sunday to carnival Tuesday. In Torres Vedras, political satire is expressed in parades of costumed characters and allegorical floats.

In Podence, the Caretos de Podence invites youngsters for parades from Sunday to Tuesday. They wear tin masks and colorful multilayered costumes of red, green and yellow wool. In the Lazarim (Lamego), local inhabitants wear heavy hand-made wooden masks that testify to the wealth of craftsmanship that can be found in Lazarim. The town of Viana do Castelo has a huge parade and street parties. In the Centro Region, Estarreja stages a celebration characterizes by its floats, richly decorated with flowers. The towns of Nelas/Canas de Senhorim host four parades: Bairro da Igreja and Cimo do Povo (in Nelas); do Paço and do Rossio (in Canas de Senhorim). The city of Óvar holds the largest festivities in this region, with costumes, masks, decorations and floats, all followed by religious processions when the Lenten season begins and Easter approaches.

In the Azores Islands, Carnival festivities are held throughout. At Ponta Delgada and Angra do Heroísmo, dance and carnival troupes parade in costume. On the island of Graciosa, large groups of all ages march in parade in colorful costumes. On the island of Terceira, dance and theatrical performances, called “Danças de Entrudo” take place, often with 30 or more different groups participating.

Source: InsidePortugalTravel.com