Have Fun with the Algarve’s “Carnival with History”

Carnival is always a source of happiness and fun for the whole family! If you’re in the Algarve during this period you can’t miss a different day where the most historic carnival traditions are in the streets of Ferragudo!

In this year that Ferragudo celebrates 500 years of history, The Municipality of Lagoa has prepared a unique and differentiating Carnival day.

On 25th February, Carnival Tuesday, the public visiting Ferragudo will be able to simultaneously enjoy and participate in different Carnival events and traditions.

Carnival with History will present four different manifestations of Carnivals around the world:

Entrudo Chocalheiro

Recently declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, it is one of the most interesting and enigmatic Trás-os-Montes rituals that marks the end of the winter cycle. It is the most genuine Portuguese Carnival and where the famous faces are found.

Gigantones and Cabeçudos

Joseolgon [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)%5D

Parading at the pace of “Zés Pereiras”, composed of drums, boxes and bagpipes, this is a typical Carnival in the north of Portugal. The symbology of this tradition refers to pagan rituals that have been adapted to Christianity. It should also be noted that this tradition was exported to some regions of Brazil, being present at the Pernambuco Carnival of Olinda (Recife), in the city of Outro Preto, in the state of Minas Gerais and, also, at the Ribeirão da Ilha Carnival, in Florianópolis.

Brazilian Carnival

Rio de Janeiro’s street Carnival is perhaps the best known worldwide, and the Samba Schools are the main protagonists of this Carnival.

The first official event was in 1932, however, the biggest growth took place in recent years, officially joining the Guinness Book, as the largest Carnival in the world.

Venice Carnival

Frank Kovalchek from Anchorage, Alaska, USA [CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)%5D

The first records of this Carnival date from 1094, gaining greater dimension from the 17th century. Nowadays it is considered one of the most famous, beautiful and ancient in the world.

It stands out, above all, for the masks and costumes that try to recreate the style of the nobles, or the theatrical representations that eternalized characters such as the pierrots, Colombians and harlequins.