During the late spring and summer months, many towns and villages host festivals to celebrate just about anything, it seems. These are annual traditions and the locals really get into them. Salir, a village (aldeia) in the hills north of Loulé, holds its annual festival in May. Festa da Espiga (festival of the [ear of] corn) is a charming, old-world festival that draws participants from the surrounding farms and villages.
The festival is an excuse for lots of eating, drinking, and merriment with old friends, neighbors, and family. Outsiders like us can only look on with curiosity, amusement, and a little envy at the simple pleasure it clearly brings to the locals. The highlight of the festival is the parade. Led by horseriders in traditional garb (one of whom was Luana, our Portuguese language teacher's daughter), tractor after tractor towing decorated carts depicting various farm and village scenes trundle through Salir's tiny and crowded streets to cheering crowds of locals and tourists. Everyone has a grand time. [Scroll left/right to view gallery]
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