Festa da Pinha 2015

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Every year in the beginning of May the people of Estoi are celebrating a very special festival, „Festa da Pinha”, meaning festival of the pine cone. Until now nobody could explain to us the origin of this old tradition. The procession from Estoi to Ludo near Almancil and back on May 2 is the spectacular highlight of this event.

The participants, traditionally dressed with black trousers, white shirt and red kerchief get together at the racecourse of Estoi – horsemen, horse-drawn carriages, tractors and lorries, all beautifully decorated with flowers. At the end of the day the best decorations in each of these categories will be awarded.

The spectacular procession starts at around 9:30 with the many voiced cry “Viva a Pinha”, passing the parish church, where a large crowd is already waiting, accompanied by the peal of bells. The next station is Santa Barbara de Nexe, and from there the procession continues its way direction Almancil to Ludo near the golf course Laranjal. There an extensive barbecue takes place for hours, before the tidily companionship returns in the evening to Estoi.

On the way back the processions tends to be less organized, so that the time table can get mixed up, while in Estoi young and old are partying in front of the church since the early evening hours. A huge crowd of spectators is lining the main road, expecting the arrival of the procession in the light of the torches shortly before midnight.