The beginning of the Festival of Trays (Festa dos Tabuleiros) is marked by the call of the people to a public meeting, convened by the Mayor, to the Noble Hall of the City Hall (Salão Nobre dos Paços do Concelho) where it is decided whether there is a Festival of Trays the following year and if the people's opinion is favorable the Butler (Mordomo) is chosen. After the decision on the Festival and if the people decide that there is a Festival, three rockets are launched to announce that there is a Festival ...
Why so much time in advance? The Festival of Trays encompasses several Parades, the work of several hundred people who for more than six months make the flowers that will decorate the boards and decorate the popular streets, most of which are located in the historic center of the city.
The need to plan, organize and raise funds and subsidies leads to the need to start working a long time in advance (changing of times).
On the other hand, the Festival includes several traditional ceremonies such as the Parade of Crowns, the Parade of Boys, the Parade of the Butler or the arrival of the Oxen of the Holy Spirit, the opening of the Ornate Popular Streets, Partial Parades, Popular Games, the Great Parade or Parade of Trays and the Pêza that need to be thought and organized properly because the key is to fulfill what our great-grandparents and grandparents also did, that is, to maintain the tradition and especially to respect it.
In addition to these traditional ceremonies, during the Festival period there are various cultural and recreational shows that are a showcase of the best that the various Associations of the Council do.
After the election, the Butler begins the necessary contacts for the constitution of the Central Commission, where the Butlers responsible for the various sectoral Commissions are found, for example: Parade, Bodo, Butler, Boys, Ornaments, Ornate Popular Streets, Logistics, Institutional Contacts, Financial Management, Legal Services, Cultural Program, Fundraising, Traffic and Transport, Fair and Festival, Advertising and Marketing, Popular Shows, Secretariat, Public Relations, Communication and Sound and Technical Services. The Mayor, the Prior and the Ombudsman are inherently members of the Central Commission.
Why so much time in advance? The Festival of Trays encompasses several Parades, the work of several hundred people who for more than six months make the flowers that will decorate the boards and decorate the popular streets, most of which are located in the historic center of the city.
The need to plan, organize and raise funds and subsidies leads to the need to start working a long time in advance (changing of times).
On the other hand, the Festival includes several traditional ceremonies such as the Parade of Crowns, the Parade of Boys, the Parade of the Butler or the arrival of the Oxen of the Holy Spirit, the opening of the Ornate Popular Streets, Partial Parades, Popular Games, the Great Parade or Parade of Trays and the Pêza that need to be thought and organized properly because the key is to fulfill what our great-grandparents and grandparents also did, that is, to maintain the tradition and especially to respect it.
In addition to these traditional ceremonies, during the Festival period there are various cultural and recreational shows that are a showcase of the best that the various Associations of the Council do.
After the election, the Butler begins the necessary contacts for the constitution of the Central Commission, where the Butlers responsible for the various sectoral Commissions are found, for example: Parade, Bodo, Butler, Boys, Ornaments, Ornate Popular Streets, Logistics, Institutional Contacts, Financial Management, Legal Services, Cultural Program, Fundraising, Traffic and Transport, Fair and Festival, Advertising and Marketing, Popular Shows, Secretariat, Public Relations, Communication and Sound and Technical Services. The Mayor, the Prior and the Ombudsman are inherently members of the Central Commission.
Source: Festa dos Tabuleiros 2011