Ancient Parade defies history and recalls a forgotten war

Tuesday, 12 October 2010 20:08

The Festa da Bugiada is a popular event traditionally held annually on the 24th of June, under the celebrations of St. John of São João  in the town of Sobrado near Valongo Northern Portugal. It is an ancient tradition which is patterned struggles between Moors and Christians or as they are called in the festival Mourisqueiros and Bugios, respectively.

The Festa da Bugiada come from a legend transmitted from generation to generation, probably dating to the time when the Moors occupied much of the Iberian Peninsula.  The legend tells of the struggle of a miraculous image of  St. John, owned by the Bugios, that the Mourisqueiros needed save the daughter of their king. The festival is miring in centuries and perhaps one of the most unique and inserting pageant in all of Europe.

This event takes place in the form of dances. The bugios, under the leadership of the Old Bugio go masked, dressed in garish clothes, take plumes of headbands, bells throughout the body and castanets in their hands.

Are usually several hundred in number, of all ages, and make a huge amount of noise.  The Mourisqueiros are driven by Reimoeiro are single men, numbering a few dozen. They use in colorful  dress and wearing a shako - a cylindrical hat lined with mirrors and topped with feathers, and carrying a sword. After the dances, which begin in the morning, the Festa da Bugiada reaches its climax in the evening, when each of the formations move up to the castle and start a war and an exchange of "embassies ". Failing in an agreement, the Bugios and Mourisqueiros attack the castle. When all seems over, the bugios rely on a giant serpent  who  appear s  and the Mourisqueiros run, releasing their leader.
Videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNyWVDPbA6s and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2CWmn0PdnQ&feature=related