Caretos of Podence Carnival 2027: Pagan Tradition in Northern Portugal

Welcome to the Caretos of Podence Carnival 2027

In the small village of Podence, in the rural northeast of Portugal near the Spanish border, Carnival is celebrated unlike anywhere else in the country. Between Domingo Gordo (Fat Sunday) and Terça feira de Carnaval (Shrove Tuesday), from 6 to 9 February 2027, the famous Caretos run through the narrow streets: masked figures dressed in vivid red, green and yellow woolen fringed suits, with bronze cowbells (chocalhos) strapped around their waists. The festival is considered one of Europe's oldest and most authentic Carnival rituals, rooted in pagan, agrarian traditions that mark the end of winter and the arrival of spring.

Highlights

• Recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
• Masked Caretos wearing handcrafted tin, wood or leather masks
• The traditional chocalhadas: the loud clanging of cowbells through the streets
• "Noite mágica" and "Pregão casamenteiro" on Monday, 8 February
• Burning of a giant Careto figure to close the festival (Queima do Entrudo)
• Colorful murals and the Casa do Careto museum in the village

Program

Celebrations begin on Domingo Gordo, 6 February 2027, when the first Caretos take to the streets and traditional tavern meals accompany the day. On Monday, 8 February, the "Pregão casamenteiro" (a mocking public announcement of possible village wedding matches) together with the "Noite mágica" forms one of the emotional highlights of the festival. The celebration closes on Shrove Tuesday, 9 February, when Caretos chase young women through the streets to ring them with their cowbells, an old fertility ritual, before an eight meter tall Careto figure is symbolically burned in the evening to drive away the old and the bad.

Tickets

The Podence Carnival is a freely accessible street festival with no tickets or general pass required. Meals at local taverns and occasional special events may carry a separate cost, but access to the processions themselves is free.

Visitor Tips

• Arrive early, as Podence is a small village and gets very crowded on the main procession days.
• Plan to travel by car, as public transport connections to the region are limited.
• Stay alert; the chocalhadas are part of the tradition but can be loud and sudden.
• Visit the Casa do Careto museum to learn more about the history of the ritual.
• Book accommodation in Macedo de Cavaleiros or Bragança in advance, as Podence itself offers very few places to stay.