If you want a unique experience in Portugal, then consider attending Carnival in Portugal 2023. There are numerous Carnivals throughout the Country. The celebrations go on for at least a week, and in some places, they may go longer. So you can always go to multiple festivals to see how celebrations are throughout the Country. 

If you are considering living in Portugal you need to experience Carnival before you immigrate.

If you are unaware of Carnival, we will explain the celebration. We will also provide information on when the celebrations occur and link to the respective cities’ information hubs on Carnival. 

The Portugal Carnival Comes To Life!

You probably have already heard someone talking about the Carnival in Portugal, as it has everyone talking. The Carnival is fun, with music and mass quantities of food. It is a moment when you genuinely can get to know the residents. If you want to observe Portuguese culture, you will have a blast at the Carnival, as it is an excellent excuse for a place to stop. 

If you are visiting the area at an excellent destination, see if there will be a Carnival. 

Kicking Off Lent

The Portugal Carnival is familiar. It is like many carnivals held worldwide right before the beginning of lent. You may have heard of Mardi Gras, born in Louisiana. The Carnival in Portugal is similar to Mardi Gras. Both carnivals celebrate the same thing, including many comparable activities and rituals.

In Portugal, the Carnival is the largest celebration of the year. There are people from around the world who attend every year. It typically transpires in February, right before the beginning of Lent. It signals the end of Winter and ushers in a period where Catholics would abstain from eating meat. Carnival is generally not religious; therefore, it continues well past Ash Wednesday, when religiously affiliated carnivals end. The Carnival in Portugal usually lasts almost three weeks of partying. The focus is on fun and celebration.

Portugal Carnival History

The Portuguese history of Carnival extends hundreds of years. The festivals of today have roots back in Catholic Religion. The origins of Carnival began in Italy when people would celebrate the days before lent by wearing costumes. 

There would be large feasts where they ate all their meat supplies. While the practice might be seen as greedy, the motivation was Catholicism forbids eating meat during lent. 

The popularity of Carnival increased and spread to areas in Spain and France. As Catholicism spread, so did the celebrations of Carnival. Later the festival made its way to the Americas through European settlers.

Today the top event to experience in Portugal is Carnival. The city of Lisbon quickly fills up with locals and visitors. The city comes to life with celebrations everywhere and a lot of fun. However, there are numerous celebrations throughout Portugal we will discuss later. 

What Happens at the Portugal Carnival

Carnival is all about music, dancing, and colorful costumes. The elaborate costumes of the Carnival are unique. Numerous people spend months in preparation for the Carnival. The costumes can be very complicated for the celebration. 

Depending on where you go, the costumes will have metal, sequins to feathers. The native people are meticulous in preparing their costumes and take Carnival very seriously. Focus on Carnival may be all about fun, but the preparation is hard work ensuring every detail is perfect. 

Party Time!!

Preparation begins long before the month of February. The first line of Carnaval’s business is to develop and work on costume ideas to fit the theme. The creativity of the costumes and props is a very show-like experience. 

Awards are presented for the best costumes and are quite coveted. Much labor proceeds into constructing all the details. Thanks to all the preparation for the festivities, there is rarely a dull moment.

The Portugal Carnival is a show. For visitors, it is something that words can not describe. You have to experience it for yourself. The costumes, the music, the people, and the food are all unique and will have you awe-struck. 

You can grab food along the street, where vendors eagerly cook delicious grub. You can observe various parades with gorgeous floats and costumed participants as you eat. There are parties, and everyone is happy, lively, and welcoming. Undoubtedly, the Carnival is one of the most incredible times to be in Portugal.

It is exciting as you mingle with the people throughout the celebrations.

Even if you attended Carnival elsewhere, you must experience the Portugal Carnival. Every celebration is unique. Each with its cultural influences. In Portugal, you will experience the cities and the people in a way you can not do at any other time of the year. It is an experience like no other. Book a trip to Portugal for the Carnival if you want to have fun and let loose on vacation.

When is Carnival in Portugal in 2023?

The central portion of the Portuguese Carnival will be held this year from February 17- 22, 2023, with the main celebrations taking place on Shrove Tuesday (21st February).

However, some of these towns could have celebrations outside of this period. We will highlight some of the places to visit in Portugal during this time. 

While it technically may still be Winter, the sun is already shining bright in Portugal. Therefore Spring is just around the corner. So, there’s no excuse not to celebrate and join the party.

Carnival in Portugal

Carnival in Famalicão (North)

Many people have told me that the Carnival of Famalicão is unique in the Country. It’s a Carnival that is nothing excessive but genuine and surprising and unfolds naturally.

Those who have celebrated the Carnival of Famalicão in previous years have never traded it for any other.

The celebration of the Carnival in this city was born with the will of the local inhabitants, who every year go out in the street en masse and incarnate several characters. This celebration in Famalicão is recent, but with the passage of a few years, it has gained strength, and nowadays, it’s prevalent.

It’s a party chosen by many revelers to celebrate Carnival with joy and creativity. This year it will not be going on, though. However, if there is any late announcement, you can check them out here. 

Ovar (Center)

The Carnival in Ovar is an event the locals look forward to all year. It’s a party that attracts thousands of people to this region.

The most celebrated days are the Day of the Carnival Parade (Fat Sunday and Carnival Tuesday) and the night of Monday. These days attract revelers from all over the Country to enjoy themselves and see the parade.

In this preparation, the masked ones reunite with their families to construct masks, costumes, and allegorical cars.

The Carnival is full of color, fantasy, exoticism, and creativity. Therefore, this is undoubtedly one of the best carnivals in the Country.

This year the Carnival in Ovar is celebrated from 1st February to 21st February.

Carnival in Podence

If you want to visit one of the more authentic Carnival celebrations, go to Podence.  

This ritual event originated “a long time” by the organization of life according to the rhythms of the agricultural cycle, reports to the celebration parties of the end of the winter cycle and the beginning of the production cycle of Spring.

Particular concerns about other Carnival festivities held elsewhere in Portugal were adapting to keep tourists in the big cities of Lisbon and Porto. However, from a post-rural socio-economic context, the Carnival party at Caretos de Podence today assumes its unique particularities. The mask and behaviors characterize the ritual with protagonists of the party, the masked, known as “caretos.”

If you have only time for one carnival celebration in Portugal, make it here between the 17th and 21st of February.

Mealhada

By the Mealhada, the party is also lovely. At times those responsible for the Carnival in this region invite someone famous for the Brazilian Carnival or some public figure.

Nowadays, Carnival is celebrated more locally, where local products, especially those of greater importance, are valued. This part of the Country has four wonders: piglets, water, wine, and bread.

Moreover, it’s a carnival with great joy where you can also find samba schools that have trained all year to have a good performance for these days of celebration.

The festivities will occur from the 17th to the 21st of February.

Torres Vedras

For those who are in Lisbon, did you know that Torres Vedras is only 50 minutes away from Lisbon? And is the most Portuguese Carnival in the Country?

If you like Carnival, Torres Vedras is the ideal place to celebrate the event. The celebration on these sides is with allegoric cars (plastic qualities represent satire of national and international current affairs), matrafonas (men who dress as women), and the famous cabeçudos (dolls with 3-4 meters with a head made of paper pulp) that the “Zés-Pereiras accompany.”

Therefore, this is a celebration that no one is indifferent. The launching of “Cocotes” (objects made of paper and remains of sawdust and rubber) is every day in Torres Vedras.

On Saturday of Carnival, at night, the groups that have masked have the opportunity to participate in the parade of the party where in the end, the winning group is elected.

It’s a Carnival in the center of the city, with much excitement, and is waiting for you from 17th to 23rd of February.

Lisbon Carnival

This year the Carnival in Lisbon is celebrated for more than half of the month, so there will be no excuses for not going.

Chapitô has been organizing a carnival parade that has lasted for ten years. The inspiration for this year’s parade is by the times we live in today, and it promises a lot of fun, music, and circus. Usually, the tickets are free for residents of Lisbon.

The spirit of Pernambuco with the carnival block Baque Virado will mark the Príncipe Real Garden. The parade follows in the direction of Cais do Sodré.

At the Quiosque da Ribeira das Naus at Cais do Sodré, Carnaval Bué Tolo will take your music to the street. You should expect to hear samba, a lot of funk, and many parties.

Take part in Lisbon parties on the 21st and 22nd of February.

Atypical Last Line

There are many celebrations in Portugal. Carnival is a grand celebration to experience. If you are visiting Europe in February or March, you should consider attending one of the many festivities mentioned above.

If you are looking for other celebrations in Portugal, you can enjoy many cultural experiences throughout the year. There are Patron Saints of towns and cities throughout Portugal. These areas celebrate them, but there are other festivals, such as an onion festival in Coimbra.

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