Welcome to Carnival in Portugal
Description:
Welcome to Portugal for the Carnival! This holiday is also known as Entrudo (The Shroud). It is always celebrated on Tuesday 47 days before Easter Sunday.
In Portugal, carnival is not an official holiday, the heads of municipalities and businesses decide whether the carnival will be a working day or a holiday. As a rule, the decision is always on the side of the ancient tradition. Carnival was invented by the Greek people in 600-520 BC, they asked the gods for a good harvest year.
In 590 AD this pagan festival of Maslenitsa was adapted by the Catholic Church for its own purposes and since then Carnival has become a religious Christian holiday. The word Carnaval literally translates as “abandoning meat”, marking the eve of Lent. People celebrated, drank, ate meat and delicacies to prepare for the period of deprivation beginning the next day.
Northern Portugal is the birthplace of the Portuguese Carnival. There are still ancient traditions and customs that we can see and take part in this holiday.
