Love it or hate it, Portugal’s ‘carnaval’ traditions run deep – and this year has been a ‘travesty’ because of the storms.
Multiple municipalities have been forced to delay or even cancel their celebrations. Perhaps the most notable being Torres Vedras, which puts on one of the “most important carnival parades” in the country – an event that attracts as many as half a million visitors to the town, and which generates as much as €15 million for the local economy. Sadly, not this year however – which will see hotels and local businesses counting the cost. The town council has said it spent roughly €700,000 on the event that will now have ‘gone to waste’.
Torres Vedras’ decision was prompted by the damages that it suffered as a result of the ‘carousel of storms’ that assailed the country earlier this month – and it was mirrored by Patais (Alcobaça), Mealhada (Aveiro), Caldas da Rainha, Castelo Branco, Proença-a-Nova, Tomar, Nazaré and Vila de Rei.
Quite apart from the clear-up operations still going forwards in some places, the lack of ‘enthusiasm’ for celebration at a time when so much has been lost will be riding high.
Other municipalities (Ovar, Estarreja, Rio Maior) have ‘delayed’ parades for later dates, while others are carrying on regardless (mostly due to areas having skipped wider devastation). This includes the Algarve where celebrations have been taking place in Odiáxere, and will be moving forwards in Loulé as is the big regional attraction.
Other venues where carnival will be ‘going ahead as usual’ include Loures, Sines, Elvas, Samora Correia and Sesimbra.
Source material: Correio da Manhã/ SIC Notícias
