Costume of Carocho from Morcelas Festival

The Carocho from the Festas das Morcelas in Constantim (Miranda do Douro, Portugal) is a fearsome masked character rooted in ancient winter solstice rituals. Traditionally played by a young man, the Carocho wears a dark, beast-like mask (often with horns or tusks) along with black or heavy garments, clanging cowbells, and sometimes smoke or fire elements to enhance his frightening presence. He roams the village alongside the Belha (his “wife”), knocking on doors, making noise, and collecting food offerings for the communal feast. Both terrifying and playful, the Carocho symbolizes chaos, the expulsion of evil, and the renewal of life, while also preserving a centuries-old pagan custom that remains central to the cultural identity of Trás-os-Montes.

Here we can see a mannequin without support. Black hat with metal appliqués and leather mask (Miguel Silva). Grey coat with red wool fringes and fabric ribbons. Grey trousers. A pair of black gaiters. A large necklace made of wooden beads. A pair of black lace-up boots. A wooden mask. A bell hanging between the legs. A Constantim lizard.