Viana Do Bolo

COMPADRES THURSDAY

At midnight the compadre or lardeiro is hung from a pole in the Praza Maior, the main square: This is how Entrudio officially begins. On this day the protagonists are the men, who throughout the day will try not to leave any woman without flour on her face.

Apart from the fariña (flour), in the morning, the town's schools hold a parade, led by a fulión and boteiros , which is followed by the pupils displaying their colourful costumes. At night, the fulión come out accompanied by the boteiros (who do not wear the full suit, but only the monca and the bells).

After a busy night playing fulión, the compadres gather for a feast.

COMADRES Thursday

Comadres Thursday follows the same pattern as the previous Thursday, but in this case the flour is in the hands of the women. The comadre or lardeira is put in place, again at midnight, indicating that today only women are allowed to  do the flouring.

In the morning the primary and secondary schools come together to take a tour of Viana, playing the fulión, wearing costumes and accompanied by boteiros. At night the fulión and the boteiros, this time sporting only their moncas and bells rather than the full costume, come out. Finally, all the women of Viana dress up to attend the comadres' feasts, which are usually enlivened by brass bands.

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY OF ENTRUDIO

The biggest nights of Entrudio. Flour everywhere, everybody dressed in costumes, hundreds of people drumming the fulion in celebration.

In addition, since the recovery of the once-lost tradition of the comparsas,
Saturday of Entrudio usually features a disputa of the comparsa
in various villages, both in the morning and in the afternoon.

Fat sunday

'Fat Sunday' is one of the biggest days of Entrudio in Viana. From 11 a.m. there is a great parade of fuliones, boteiros and floats. There are over 1,000 participants.

When the parade finishes the Androlla Feast begins, a giant gastronomic event with more than half a century of history which brings together about 3,000 diners. Once the meal is finished, in the middle of the afternoon, some fuliones parade again through the streets of Viana.

​

The menu begins with a broth with croutóns, followed by cachelos (boiled potatoes) with turnip greens, ham, chorizo ​​and androlla. After that, there is an amazing roasted lamb with salad. The menu ends with bica from Viana (a kind of sponge cake) and the traditional queimada, cauldrons of very strong liqueurs which burn with a blue flame before they're served.

MONDAY OF ENTRUDIO

Monday is children's day. In the afternoon, the children organise their own fulión and take a little tour of the town. At the end of this parade, a series of games are organised in the main square and everyone is invited to a delicious cup of hot chocolate and biscuits.

At night, the trapalleiros come out, with people playing fulión with tin or
plastic pots instead of using the typical drums and trowels of the official
fulion. Anything that makes a noise!

FAT tuesday

In the morning, the fulión and the boteiros make a journey to Cabo da Vila (the old town), where the local residents organise an aperitif. In the afternoon, it's time for more flour: children and adults go out to the streets with the aim that no one returns home with a clean face.

​

At night, all the members of the different fuliones go down to Viana, take a short tour of the town and then have dinner together in the municipal sports hall. Shortly before midnight, the fuliones beat again in the main square while the lardeiros burn. This symbolises the end of Entrudio. This is followed by a costume contest and some music.

THE SARDINE's funeral

The last celebration of Entrudio, though Lent has already begun, is the
Enterro da Sardiña. A giant foil sardine constructed on a wire frame tours Viana, followed by locals in funeral attire, emitting comical cries of pain and anguish for the deceased sardine, which will be burned shortly after in the
Old Town.

After this burning, the residents of Cabo da Vila invite everyone to a free barbecue, where real grilled sardines and cinnamony torrijas (similar to French toast) are served.