Travel: Festa do Tabuleiros, Portugal
by Leila Claudio
LW contributor
How lucky am I that my fabulous sister, Eva Claudio, had arranged to include me in an outing with her Lisbon Supper Club to the city of Tomar in central Portugal. The Knights Templar ruled Tomar in 1162 to defend it against Moorish attacks. It was the last stronghold of the Templars. In 1314, Philip IV of France, owing huge debts to the order, imprisoned the Pope and coerced him to suppress the order on forced confessions. In 1834, all religious orders were disbanded.
Once every four years, the Festa dos Tabuleiros (Trays Festival) is celebrated, attracting people from around the globe. It stemmed from before Roman times celebrating the cult of spring, when young girls took an oath of purity. Thirty-eight streets are filled with flowers.
We started our journey at 8 a.m. When we got to Tomar, of course we had to have our breakfast of ham sandwiches with coffee. At 10 a.m., the parades started. The local population parades in pairs, with girls carrying the tabuleiros on their heads. The tabuleiros are made up of 30 pieces of bread (signifying the king giving bread to his subjects) with flowers. At the top is either a dove (signifying the Holy Spirit) or the esfera armillar (armillary sphere), a symbol of historical Portuguese maritime expansion.
I cannot describe the feeling of celebration, joy and camaraderie. How blessed that I was able to participate in this festa (party) that only comes once every four years!
Ladies carry tabuleiros on their heads during the festival.
Sisters Eva (l) and Leila Claudio
