Felos e Madamas in Esgos

Although it is believed that the initial purpose of this tradition in Esgos was to frighten off the wolves, nowadays its purpose is very different. Every Carnival Sunday, you’ll find the Felos de Esgos out on parade in all the towns and villages, as they announce the locals of the coming festival days of Entroido.

The Felos are accompanied by their Madamas They put on their best clothes, dressing up in traditional shawls and skirts (saias) to faithfully follow the parading Felos.

The traditional ‘Felos de Esgos’ costume is currently a white skirt, with white shirt and white stockings, and colourful dangling ribbons. The elongated cardboard or leather mask on their heads have painted motifs (usually of animals). They also wear a string of cowbells (esquilós) around their waists.

This folklore character also appears in the mountains bordering Xunqueira de Espadanedo (in Pardeconde), parading around in a very familiar event known as the Felos da Serra. 

Date: carnival Sunday