At this time of year, the sea in Nazare offers more than just giant waves and fresh fish! During the coming weeks, Carnival festivities sweep over Portugal's oldest fishing village... 

At this time of year, the sea in Nazare offers more than just giant waves and fresh fish! During the coming weeks, Carnival festivities sweep over Portugal's oldest fishing village in a display of excitement that involves the entire population for weeks. The unique traditions of this land gain new colours and sounds, and wherever you go it's impossible to be unaware of the genuine joy with which the Nazarene celebrate Carnival. 

Although this century-old festivity is celebrated in several places in Portugal, Nazare has its very own Carnival traditions, starting with the theme. Every year, this seafront village chooses a different theme, inspired by local phrases which no one from out of town will probably understand! 

But that is just one of the peculiarities that attract visitors from all over the region! Both locals and expats in Portugal join the fun regardless of understanding the lyrics to the music... after all, the joy of living is a universal language! 

Discover why Carnival in Nazare Portugal is so exciting:  

It all starts with a secular tradition

Although the Kings of Carnival are presented every year on the first days of January, officially Carnival celebrations in Nazare only start after Saint Blaise Day (Dia de Sao Bras), celebrated annually on February 3rd. 

On this day, the village of Nazare virtually empties itself to honour tradition in a pine forest at the foot of the Mount of Saint Bartholomew (Monte de Sao Bartolomeu), between the villages of Pederneira and Valado dos Frades. Here, thousands of people gather to spend the day surrounded by bonfires with blankets laid on the ground and tables of food. The "farnel" contains pork meat, chorizo and black pudding that are grilled over the fire and eaten with delicious Portuguese bread. Salted sardines are also a favourite and an age-old tradition, as well as the wine jugs, a sure-fire way to keep everyone warm in-between joyful dances! The day is spent eating and drinking to the sound of local Carnival songs, performed lived and the air is filled with laughter, in a memorable display of life’s simplest pleasures. The bravest venture up the steep slope to the small chapel of S. Bras situated at the top.

This day is so important for the Nazarene people that locally the Mount of Saint Bartholomew is actually referred to as “Monte de Sao Bras”.

Several weeks of masquerade balls 

Another important Carnival tradition in Nazare is the masquerade balls that begin in early February and run every weekend until Lent. 

The Planalto Recreational Association's masquerade ball in Sitio is, by tradition, the first to take place. There are also balls held in Pederneira, Circulo Cultural Mar-Alto, Casino Salao de Festas and at BIR (Biblioteca Instrucao e Recreio) in Valado dos Frades, with children and adult costume contests in all of them. Each year, people from all over the region join the fun and take advantage of the rhythm of carnival dances to burn the calories of all the delicious food available in this fantastic region of Portugal!

On Sundays, the dances invade the streets, with outdoor balls in Pederneira, Sitio and Nazare town centre.

“Folioes” take to the streets

On the Saturday before Carnival weekend, called “Skinny Saturday” (Sabado Magro), the “Bicicletas!” (exclusively male groups, all on a bicycle), “Sakanagem” (mixed groups) and the female groups “Trotinetas”, “Alberquêra” and “Tenantas” parade through Nazare announcing the upcoming Carnival celebrations. And this is just a glimpse of the huge parade that Nazare hosts the following weekend. 

The first parade takes place on Friday and is an opportunity to pass the tradition on to future generations of “folioes”. The children’s Carnival parade counts with thousands of children from schools in Nazare who parade in Valado dos Frades, Famalicao and Nazare. 

The Night Parade, that takes place on "Fat Saturday", is a more recent tradition, that has been becoming more and more popular every year. Illuminated floats as well as the various groups in costume light up the night in Nazare, parading along the seafront promenade and partying well into dawn. 

The following morning, several weeks of hard work and planning come together when the famous Infernal Bands wake everyone from the early hours making noise with pots, pans, and various musical instruments. The celebrations then continue at the Royal Palace in Sitio, near the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazare, when the Carnival Kings of the previous year officially pass their duties to the current Kings. 

During the afternoon, thousands of visitors join to watch the highlight of the festivities: the Sunday Parade. This is one of the most famous in Portugal, an unforgettable spectacle of light and joy that fills the marvellous seafront avenue facing Nazare beach. On Carnival Tuesday, also known as “Dia de Entrudo”, the Parade is repeated. 

Portugal's most genuine Carnival 

Despite regional differences in Portugal, Carnival masks, disguises and music have been a popular form of pleasure throughout centuries. Celebrated in anticipation of the period of sacrifice required by Catholic Lent, during Carnival the profane prevails over the sacred: rules and norms are broken, values are reversed and everyone can be whatever they want.

›› Read more about Carnival in Portugal 

In Nazare, historically carnival was especially a joyous time because it was also a period where this land of fisherman could escape from the hardships of life. The colourful costumes contrasted with the black worn by the widows and mothers who lost their loved one to the sea, and the joyous music and dance was a distraction from the hunger and sadness that was common in fishing villages of the past. 

Unlike many Carnival parades in Portugal, to this day Nazare’s remains true to its traditions and everything is done locally with great pride. From the choice of Carnival Kings to the various "marches", with lyrics and melodies created for and by the Nazarenes. The local radio plays these marches non-stop for weeks, sharing music that is meant to be not only funny but also a pretext for social criticism.

As the Portuguese would say, “life lasts for two days, and carnival for three!” (“a vida sao dois dias e o Carnaval sao três”). If you too would like to escape to a more joyous and colourful life, contact us to find your dream home near a sunny beach in Portugal:

›› Property for sale in the Silver Coast 

Portugal Realty™ - Property for sale in Portugal

*Photo credits: Município da Nazaré