A vibrant New Year / Epiphany street festival in Salsas (Bragança) held annually on or around January 5–6. Hundreds of local caretos clad in colorful tattered costumes and bells parade through the village accompanied by drums and bagpipes. The masked procession carries torches or burning waste ('queimar o ano velho') in a ritual to cleanse the past year. Locals and visitors join in song and dance around bonfires, celebrating community identity. The 2025 edition (Jan 4, 2025) saw participation from caretos of many villages, preserving authentic folklore. The festival highlights the carnival spirit linked to the Three Kings’ Day. 1 The traditional peditório and community auction on the evening of January 5 are core local elements of the celebration.
This festival is part of the region’s Epiphany traditions, where caretos represent ancestral figures driving out winter and negative forces. It emphasizes communal unity through collective festivity. The ritual burning of the old year and procession echo age-old purification rites. As 'Festa dos Reis', it ties to the Christian calendar but retains strong pagan symbolism (masked dancers, noise-making) as a form of rural carnival. 1
Venues and routes
Largo da Estação de Salsas · Bragança
Largo da Estação de Salsas
Main · Main gathering place for the parade, street theater, and ceremonies · Largo da Estação, Salsas · Bragança
Campo da Feira
Bonfire area and festivities · Rua do Forno, 5300-XXX Salsas · Bragança
Largo da Igreja, Salsas
Gathering point for parade · Largo da Igreja, 5300-XXX Salsas · Bragança
The dates that shape the visit.
Opening day · Sat, Jan 2
Kicks off mid-afternoon through village lanes
Arrive early (by 14:30) to find a good viewing spot; enjoy music and dancing along the route
Day 2 · Sun, Jan 3
Major event on the second day
Stand by the station square by 15:15; lively spectacle with music, house calls and rituals
Day 4 · Tue, Jan 5
Scheduled at the festival's finale
Bundle up (night is cold) and enjoy the dramatic pyre and fireworks from the square (arrive before 21:30).
Reference notes for once this becomes a real plan.
Practical notes refreshed Feb 6.
High crowds · Lively energy
Crowds pack the streets during parades; space opens up between events
Low crime area; event is community-run and well supervised
Cold winter weather · Events usually proceed rain or shine
Daily budget: €50-70 · Drinks: €2-3 (beer, wine, soft drinks)
Eat at local cafes, bring reusable water bottle, travel with group
From center: Approx. · Limited wheelchair access (uneven ground, cobblestones)