Born in Ousilhão – Vinhais, I started to work in wood (mask) as well as other handicrafts in 1998 for my own use, later starting (2009) to make masks for sale, I carry out works mainly in chestnut wood (Castanea sativa) that it is the predominant wood in the region, as well as in alder (Alnus glutinosa) and walnut (Juglans regia) among others.

My masks are connected to the feast of Stº Estevão or called the Festa dos Meninos, this ritual of the Winter Parties in Trás-os-Montes takes place in Ousilhão on 24/25 and 26 December where there is a connection between the Christian ritual and the pagan ritual.

The night before, the celebration is anticipated with the performance of traditional jokes in which people eat, drink, dance and socialize until the wee hours of the morning.

The party is held by the “Butlers”, a group of four boys who, during the day, roam the houses of the village, performing a traditional dance at the door of each house to the sound of the bagpipes, with colorful scarves covering their shoulders and a silk ribbon in the crown of the hat fluttering like the scarf down the back, they dance while playing castanets.

Two other characters, the King and the Vassais, are crowned, dressed to the nines with colored cloth and paper ribbons, parade with the crown on their head, carrying the stick in their hand, in symbolic representation of authority.

While the blessed bread is distributed to the sound of the box and the bagpipes, the village parish priest performs the Christian mass ritual in a ceremony marked by pagan rituals.

After the religious celebration, the “masks” roam the streets in several groups and in large numbers, wearing the most colorful costumes of the festivities.

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