“Brincas of Évora” Rituals of Carnival and performance in the south of Portugal: Rural and traditional festivities in the contemporary world

Abstract

The “Brincas of Evora” is a dramatic performance using popular rhymes as the narrative plot, encompassing music, dance and poetry. It is a carnival celebration inspired by old winter rituals which were common through out Europe. This paper aims to describe, analyze and discuss the “Brincas of Évora”, a type of popular performance celebrated in the south of Portugal, looking at its theatrical features and the motivations of the participants. It also discusses the community relevance of “Brincas” in terms of social, emotional and esthetic experience. A mixed methodology has been used to integrate different voices – group elements, cultural and artistic leaders and the audiences.