Festa dos Tabuleiros
The ‘Festa dos Tabuleiros’ ( Festival of Trays) in TOMAR, Central Portugal is celebrated once every four years. The latest Festival took place from 2-11 July 2011 and attracted around 700 hundred thousand visitors on the final weekend to the small city of TOMAR…. Here is a selection of pictures taken by Casa Rosden and our good friend Mary Delglyn at this years Tabuleiros’ Festival.
It’s hard to believe that all these street decorations are made with paper flowers and preparations have to start a year before the festival takes place !
The Festa dos Tabuleiros is an ancient tradition of the city, which dates back to the 14th Century, when queen Isabel founded the brotherhood of the Holy Spirit . It originally began in a little village called Carregueiros close to Tomar. The Crown Procession on Easter Sunday marks the start of the Festival which takes place during several days at the beginning on July. Lots of Music, Dancing and fireworks are heard and seen in the city at this time. The streets are decorated with thousands of paper flowers, which are made by the local businesses and residents. The festival highlight is the Procession of the ‘Tabuleiro’ ( Trays ) on the last day. This parade consists of around 400 young women dressed completely in white, escorted by men in black trousers, white shirts and Red ties. The women carry the ‘Tabuleiro’ on their heads which can weigh up to 15kg. It consists of 30 loaves of bread, in rows, entwined with leaves and decorated with paper flowers. At the top of the ‘Tabuleiro’, sits a crown which containing a white dove, to symbolise the holy spirit.
The day after the procession, bread, wine and beef are given to the local ‘needy’ people following Queen Isabel’s command to ‘give bread to the poor’
The next Festa Dos Tabuleiros will take place in 2015! Make sure you don’t miss it………..
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