As part of an ongoing project exploring cultural traditions and lesser-known communities, I documented Entrudo de Lazarim in February 2026.

Entrudo de Lazarim is a pagan spring carnival held in the village of Lazarim, in northern Portugal. At the heart of the celebration is the centuries-old tradition of hand-carving wooden masks, a craft passed down through generations of local families. These striking masks depict figures from folklore, mythology, and the natural world, forming a distinctive visual language rooted in the region’s cultural heritage.

More than a carnival, Entrudo de Lazarim serves as a living expression of community, identity, and collective memory. By bringing younger generations into the tradition, it helps preserve local customs while honouring the village’s history of resilience against the Portuguese dictatorship.