The festivities related with the winter solstice run from mid December to mid January, with three peaks: Christmas, New Year’s Day and Three Kings Day. Salsas is probably the largest of the Three Kings Day festivities, where the local “caretos” are joined several masked people from the northernwestern corner of the Iberian Peninsula, and where everybody finally gathers around the burning “Old Year”. This massive bonfire feels like a perfect spot to end this “winter solstice season”. #snapshot #portugal #trasosmontes #wintersolstice #festadosreis #mask #fujixt3 #vsco
Unlike other festivities around winter solstice in the North Eastern corner of Portugal, that are fast-paced and a bit on the crazy side, things at Vila Chã are more on the cozy side, which doesn’t mean less fun! Even in a ice cold morning like the one today. #snapshot #portugal #festadavelhaedomenino #trasosmontes
That time of the year again, looking back to the previous 365 days and doing that typical instagram top nine compilation! These were my nine most popular, not necessarily my favorites, but sum up pretty well what was my 2019: lots of Portugal and masks, some older stuff (specially the derelict houses of São Tomé) and some Iceland (clearly you liked it more that the USA). Curious to see what the next year’s picks will be. Hoping a great new 2020 to everyone!
The ice cold dawns in Trás-Os-Montes during winter, that covers everything white . #portugal #trasosmontes #fujixt3#vsco
Back to the Mirandese plateau, where the pauliteiros will roam the streets inviting the villagers to the party, dancing or praying at each house, and finishing at the church: the only time of the year they are allowed inside.#snapshot #portugal #trasosmontes #wintersolstice
Besides all the cult and the ritual, pagan or not, there’s one central thing that goes along hand in hand with all the food and drinking: fun! It was like that yesterday at Ousilhão, it was the same today at Grijó. #portugal #trasosmontes
Today was the day to return to Ousilhão, one of the villages in Northern Portugal where ancient masked traditions survived side by side with religious celebrations, and where beneath the fun and drinking there’s ritual more complex than it seems. #portugal #trasosmontes #wintersolstice #festasdesantoestevao
A month that as passed without taking that many photos, but in a week I’m going to head to the north of Portugal and a brand new camera was waiting on my cabinet without me having properly tested it, so I had to go out just to take some shots, regardless of the crappy day outside. #street #lisbon #portugal
Small joy of the day: that Rodenstock circular polarizer you thought you’d lost while taking those last elk shots before the very last rays of light went away a couple of months ago has been in a really, really hidden spot in your camera bag!
In the last few years I’ve been going again and again to the North of Portugal, so much that sometimes part of me is starting to feel I came from there. One of my main subjects has been the masked and other winter festivities, amazing pagan traditions that precede Christianity. And now I’m really happy, because what’s probably the most popular of those festivities has been included in UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage list: the Caretos de Podence!!!#portugal #trasosmontes #caretos #podence
