On the evening of 4 March, Carnival day, Famalicão will once again fulfil the tradition of the burning of the Galheiro, an ancestral event related to the Entrudo festival that marks the end of the carnival festivities, the expulsion of the negative forces of winter and the beginning of the renewing period of Lent.

The bonfire burns in the parish of Fradelos, starting at 10pm, in the places of Ferreirinhos, Valdossos, Outeiro do Sino and Quinta/Sapugal.

Over the course of several days, in various places in the parish, people take to the streets and pile up the remains of sowing, old tree branches and brambles around a pine tree trunk (galheiro). At the top, a doll called ‘entrudo’ is placed and set alight. The pine trees can grow up to 15 metres high and there is even a competition between places in the parish to see who can burn the biggest pine tree.

In the days leading up to this popular tradition, there will be a musical and recreational programme that kicks off this Friday, February 28, involving the presence of well-known faces such as musician Iran Costa (day 1) and comedians Fernando Rocha and Miguel 7Estacas (day 4) in Quinta/Sapugal, singer Victor Rodrigues (day 4) in Ferreirinhos, the band Sons do Rio (day 4) in Valdossos and the young musical group Marotos da Concertina (day 4) in Outeiro do Sino, among other moments of entertainment.

In addition to this popular tradition, the Fradelos Carnival Parade will also take place on March 4, organised by the Koklus youth association, which also promotes the Galheiros competition. To organise these activities, the association has the support of the IPDJ - Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth, the Vila Nova de Famalicão municipality, the Fradelos parish council and local businesses.

It's worth remembering that the carnival festivities kick off this Friday in Vila Nova de Famalicão and their highlight is the night of 3 to 4 March, when thousands of people are expected on the streets of the city.