O Carnaval em Algarve

Carnaval Loulé

On March 3, 4, and 5th, the city of Loulé hosted its Carnaval. This year’s motto was O Carnaval Não é Uma Seca (Carnival is not a drought) to give focus on the problem of water shortage in the Algarve region. The parade also integrated music and dancing similar to what you would see in Brazil. Here’s a 💎 Highlight Video.

Music was lively and families lined the street. The children were dressed in costumes and clutched rolls of streamers that had being thrown into the crowd. Soon the street was a cheery explosion of colorful confetti streamers. A character dressed as a water droplet high-fives a young boy, bright green poker tables dance by, two men traverse the parade atop oversized balls, and large turtles fly overhead. It is simply enchanting.

Os Carros Alegóricos do Desfile

The desfile (parade) in Loulé had 15 carros alegóricos (floats) and over 600 entertainers. Each parade told a different story, some staying close to the parade’s drought theme while also including a political message. I’ll share those stories in sets of three.

A Nossa Terra, Brincadeira Sobre Rodas, Paraíso Das Bananas

A Nossa Terra – Our Land. This is float dedicated to children and features the Marvel Comics character, Groot! Walking in front of this float was a character in a Chameleon costume as a symbol of the Ria Formosa Natural Park and as an animal facing extinction.

Brincadeira Sobre Rodas – Fun on Wheels is the name of this float. It is a car of inclusion adapted for people with reduced mobility.

Paraíso Das Bananas – Banana Paradise shines a light on controversy surrounding Madeira’s regional government. On this float you see the region’s president, Miguel Albuquerque, relaxing on a hammock under banana trees.

Rumo ao Oásis, Rumo ao Oásis, and Mar??? Eu Quero é O Palácio!

Rumo ao Oásis – the Toward the Oasis float has the new president of the European Council, António Costa, at the helm and ready to to face the lack of water challenges.

Rema, Rema Que Eu Já Te Apanho – the Row Row and I’ll Catch you float shows the Prime Minister of Portugal (Luís Montenegro) and the leader of the opposition (Pedro Nuno Santos) in a kayak race on the Ribeira do Cadoiço. Portugal governed by Social Democrats and the opposition lead by the Socialists.

Mar??? Eu Quero é O Palácio! – Sea? I want a Palace! This float shows the former Chief of Staff of the Navy (Admiral Henrique Gouvela e Melo) positioning himself in the race for Presidency of the Republic. It shows him taking surfing lessons on a beach in Cascais alongside the current president of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Meanwhile, another candidate, António José Seguro, is clinging to a buoy.

Seco Até Ao Osso, País Da Trumpalhada, and Usar Cada Gota Com Inteligência!

Seco Até Ao Osso – The Dry to the Bone float shows former president of Banco Espirito Santo, Ricardo Salgado, skiing in his refuge in the Swiss Alps while his court case is being held in court. On this float there is a skeletal cow giving powdered milk and a wad of cash in the skier’s back pocket.

País Da Trumpalhada – Country of Little Trump. Adding “-alhada” onto the name of the U.S. President is not a compliment. Rather, this diminutive gives emphasis to the smallness of his character. This float is a statement on his anti-immigration policy and shows a depiction of Kamala Harris being sent to the Mexican dessert.

Usar Cada Gota Com Inteligência – The Use Every Drop Wisely float, set in rural Algarve, features the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and Zé Povinho. Zé Povinho translates to Joe Public or Commoner, a satirical character who first appeared in an editorial cartoon in 1875. The message on this float is centered around the proliferation of avocado trees and their high water consumption.

A Beleza Marinha, Àgua O Nosso Tesouro Mais Precioso, and A Beleza de Floresta

A Beleza Marinha – A Marine Beauty indeed! This float shows the beauty of the seabed, the preservation of marine species, and biodiversity.

Àgua O Nosso Tesouro Mais Precioso – Water Our Most Precious Treasure. This float features Cristiano Ronaldo, a Portuguese footballer who currently plays for Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia. On the float, his life of luxury and the million dollar renewal of his contract (worth it’s weight in water) is being depicted.

A Beleza de Floresta – The Beauty of the Forest. This float is an allusion to Brazil and Africa, two very strong influences in this Carnaval.

Algarvensis, E O Burro Sou Eu?, and A Geringonça Do Aurélio

Algarvensis – This animal on this float is not a lizard and not a gecko. It is a Metoposaurus Algarvensis, an extinct amphibian similar to a giant salamander that lived 227 million years ago. The paleontological find inspired an inter-municipal initiative between Loulé, Silves, and Albufeira focused on sustainable use of the planet’s resources.

E O Burro Sou Eu? – And I’m the Dumb One? This float showcases the severe drought affecting the Algarve region. Here, we see a nora with an empty well supplying the beautiful almond trees in bloom. A nora is the pump mechanism, powered by donkeys.

A Geringonça Do Aurélio – Aurelio’s Contraption is an imaginative solution to water shortages – a car powered by animal energy!

Carnaval de Moncarapacho

The vibe in Moncarapacho was totally different. This was a traditional Portuguese parade, with children on most of the floats and in costumes in the parade. A short parade route, we watched for about 20 minutes and left when the first float made its way around again.

Portuguese Lesson (Music)

Listen to the songs we heard at Os Desfiles de Carnaval (the carnaval parades). Not all are in português.

• Levantando Las Manos by El Símbolo (apple music)
• Pamrampampam by João Lucas & Diogo (apple music)
• Mel Nesse Trem (Ao Vivo) by Cleber & Cauan (apple music)
• Milla (Ao Vivo) by Netinho (apple music)
• Preciso de Você by Netinho (apple music)