Aldeia de Cabeça, the ″capital of Christmas in Portugal″, featured in The Guardian
The village of Cabeça de Natal, in the municipality of Seia, in the middle of the Estrela mountains, was highlighted in a report by The Guardian.
“Over the last eight years, the 170 inhabitants of Cabeça, in the Serra de Estrela mountain range, have transformed their remote village into a rustic winter paradise”, can be read on the website of the British newspaper.
“The idea came from a competition promoted in 2013 by the local authority, but since then it has taken on a life of its own, every year a growing flow of visitors from all over the country”, refers the article, which cites the testimonies of some residents.
The village of Cabeça de Natal, self-proclaimed the “most typical and ecological in the country”, runs from December 18th to January 2nd, 2022.
According to the promoters, the 9th edition of the event ‘Cabeça – Aldeia Natal’ “requires Santa Claus and the decorations are 100% sustainable, made with the will, creativity and ingenuity of the people of the village”.
The municipality of Seia said in a statement that in the village of Montanha de Cabeça Christmas “is as genuine and pure as the air you breathe in Serra da Estrela”.
“In this Mountain Festival, which this year has its 9th edition, Santa Claus is not invited, as everything is made of natural resources and with the will and ingenuity of the people of the village”, he says.
According to the note, “the inhabitants of Cabeça have been working in the most peculiar and sustainable village of Natal for a long time.”
“Everything is made with the wise hands of the 170 inhabitants of this Mountain Village and with materials from Nature, such as broom, vines, pine trees, fern leaves, wool from embroidery sheep, corn canes, among others. Others. The recycled materials result from the surgical cleaning of the forests of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park and neighboring lands“, clarifies.
According to a note, “all the work is done by the community, with the commitment of all the communities in the village, the Association for Integrated Development of the Mountain Village Network (ADIRAM) and the municipality of Seia.”
In organizing the annual initiative “there are no companies involved, it is only the inhabitants who are in charge of giving body and soul to the decoration” of the Christmas party.
“The village is in harmony with the true Christmas spirit of communion, sharing and valuing traditions, such as the mass of the Galo, a Christmas bonfire, a confection of delicacies in the community oven and the Christmas Market with regional products” , it reads.
According to the source, “those who visit Cabeça at this time of year can experience the true Christmas of the most genuine mountain people”.
“The doors of the inhabitants’ homes are open and give life to the small Christmas market, the taverns and the streets are spaces where the community merges with visitors,” he adds.
The initiative ‘Cabeça – Aldeia Natal’ is “a very genuine and unique event in the country”, as the mayor of Seia, Luciano Ribeiro, told Lusa.
“It is an event that helps to sell Seia and the Serra da Estrela region abroad. This Christmas season is a unique opportunity for visitors to see something different in this very genuine and preserved village”, said the mayor.
Due to the pandemic, an organization drew up a contingency plan to face the risks of contagion by covid-19 visitors.
To access the event, it is mandatory to present a digital certificate or a negative test result for SARS-CoV-2.
When visiting the village of Cabeça, even outdoors, the use of a mask is mandatory and there are also dispensers of gel alcohol available at the entrance and exit, where access control will be carried out.
