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Portuguese Folklore
The oldest origin of Halloween dates back to the Celts
The oldest origin of Halloween dates back to the Celts, a people who inhabited areas of Ireland, Scotland and Northern France. They celebrated the festival of Samhain, which marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter. Samhain was a celebration to welcome the spirits of the dead back to Earth. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31, the spirits of the past year's dead returned to Earth to visit their former homes and loved ones. In addition to the spirits of the dead, other supernatural beings, including evil spirits, were believed to roam the Earth as the barriers between the real and supernatural worlds were weakened. People lit fires and wore scary clothes to scare away malevolent spirits. People also disguised themselves by wearing masks to avoid being recognized by malevolent spirits. Additionally, one way to ward off evil spirits was to carve scary faces into turnips.
Chestnut Tradition
Magusto is a festival between October and November, associated with dates such as Saint Simon's Day, All Saints' Day and Saint Martin's Day. It is celebrated around bonfires, roasting chestnuts with jeropiga, açaí or new wine. The brave jump over the bonfire, and "filling" it with ashes is part of the tradition. Despite the rain in autumn, "Saint Martin's summer" brings sunshine. The legend of Saint Martin, related to a rainy day, explains this phenomenon. A specific tradition, the "Magusto da Velha", takes place in Aldeia de Viçosa on December 26, honoring a rich old woman with the throwing of chestnuts from the bell tower and prayers. The event in Barqueiros, Mesão Frio, connects magusto to ancient rituals in honor of the dead.
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Discover some interesting facts about Portuguese Folklore
The legend of the Moura da Ponte de Chaves tells the story
The legend of the Moura da Ponte de Chaves tells the story of a young Moorish woman in the 12th century, engaged to her cousin, who did not love her. When the Christians reconquered Chaves, she fell in love with a Christian warrior. Her fiancé, feeling betrayed, returned to the city dressed as a beggar, to take revenge. One day he waited for her on the Roman bridge of Trajan, when he saw her approaching, he asked her for alms. The Moor, who extended her hand, locked eyes with him and the rejected Moor cursed him saying: "Forever you will be enchanted under the third arch of this bridge. Only the love of a Christian knight, not the one who took you, will be able to save you." Years later, a knight heard her laments, a woman's voice asked him to go down to the third arch of the bridge and give her a kiss. But the knight hesitated and, afraid of being bewitched, left, swearing never but pass there at midnight On Saint John's nights, his sadness can be heard.
The first legend of the Lady with the Crow's Feet originates from Beira Alta
The first legend of the Lady with the Crow's Feet originates from Beira Alta, in the village of Marialva. She lived in a small castle and attracted many suitors due to her beauty. However, she challenged suitors to bring shoes that fit their feet as a condition of marrying her. A knight, with the help of a handmaid, created shoes molded to the shape of her feet, using flour on the ground to obtain the mold. When he handed over the shoes, she, horrified to learn that her secret was known, threw herself from the castle tower and mysteriously disappeared. This gave rise to the name of the village of Marialva.
In the second version of the crowfoot lady legend
In the second version of the crowfoot lady legend, a nobleman falls in love with a beautiful woman he meets in the forest while hunting. They marry on the condition that he never makes the sign of the cross again. Years later, during a dinner, one of the couple's dogs kills the other in a fight over food. Shocked, the nobleman makes the sign of the cross, and his strange wife emits a terrible scream and disappears. Despite other adventures, she never returns to her husband's arms.
The legend of D
The legend of D. Pedro and Inês de Castro is a tragic love story that took place in Portugal. D. Pedro was married to D. Constança, but fell in love with D. Inês de Castro, an ayah. After the death of D. Constança, D. Pedro and D. Inês decided to accept their relationship, which displeased D. Pedro's father. However, they had children together. Court intrigues led to the death of D. Inês, with tears shed in the Mondego River, where the Fonte das Lágrimas is believed to have appeared in Quinta das Lágrimas. Some reddish algae in the river are associated with her blood. D. Pedro, upon discovering D. Inês' murderers, ordered them to rip out their hearts as revenge.
Ilha dos Amores, in Castelo de Paiva
Ilha dos Amores, in Castelo de Paiva, is the scene of a legend of forbidden love. It tells the story of a young farmer and a noblewoman who met in secret due to the opposition of the noblewoman's father. When she was proposed to by a nobleman, the farmer, fearing to lose her, committed murder. After the crime, the couple tried to escape to the island, but a storm sank the vessel, suggesting the revenge of the spirit of the dead nobleman. The island was once a place of worship in the Middle Ages, with ruins of a chapel dedicated to Saint Peter.
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