CIRCULODEMAJALIS

Canha Medieval Fair 2026

Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

On July 24th, 25th, and 26th, 2026, Canha travels back to the 13th century to welcome the Royal couple D. Dinis and D. Isabel of Aragon, Queen St. Isabel.

Three unmissable days at one of the region’s biggest events!

Concerts, medieval tournaments, dances and theatre, merchants and artisans, exhibitions and immersive experiences, a “Souk”, and much more…!

This is a journey into our history, to the reign that prepared Portugal for the great Age of Discoveries.

Come travel through time, experience history and have fun at the Canha Medieval Fair.

Canha Medieval Fair Schedule:

Friday, 24th: 3 PM to 2 AM
Saturday, 25th: 2 PM to 2 AM
Sunday, 26th: 12 PM to 10 PM

More information coming soon

Volunteer Registration Open for the 2026 Canha Medieval Fair

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Volunteer registration is open for the 2026 Canha Medieval Fair, and you can register now!

We are looking for volunteers for:

Back Office: supporting the Fair’s organizing members, performing tasks related to its smooth operation, among others (similar);
Visitor Support: at the information booth, guiding and providing information when requested; directing and managing entry to the moonlit dinners, the colloquium, and the theater;
Artist Support: as a guide during the Fair, proficiency in English (required), Italian and/or French (preferred).

Registrations can be made by submitting the completed Registration Form (Volunteer Guidelines) by June 24th via:

Email to feiramedievaldecanha@gmail.com
In person at Café Patarra

We look forward to your participation in the Canha Medieval Fair!

Royal Court Wanted for a Day at the 2026 Canha Medieval Fair

Sun, 10 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Canha Medieval Fair presents a unique opportunity! Gather a group of 6 friends (6 people in total, comprising ladies-in-waiting and pages) and participate in the Medieval Fair as members of the Royal Court. Each court will serve as historical reenactors for one of the days of the Medieval Fair, accompanying the Kings and Queens in the Royal Procession and at the Tournaments. To register, please send us a message listing the names of your group members and the specific day(s) on which you would like to participate.

The prize for each member of the selected courts is a meal for one person at Omaggio - Praia do Sal in Alcochete.

The meal includes food and either a non-alcoholic beverage or Dona Joaquina organic wine (ages 18+ only).

Registration is via private message to the Canha Medieval Fair Facebook page, including the full names of all group members and the group’s availability.

Royal Couple Wanted for a Day at the 2026 Canha Medieval Fair

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Are you ready to be part of the Canha Medieval Fair? We have a unique opportunity for you! We are looking for Kings and Queens to join the Medieval Fair as historical reenactors. Each King and Queen will appear during one of the days of the Medieval Fair, participating in the Royal Procession, the Tournaments, and the Moonlight Banquets (free admission for the King and Queen to the Moonlight Banquets on the day they are performing). To apply, please send us a private message via the Canha Medieval Fair Facebook page.

Mother Moon Celebration - 3rd Majalis Anniversary

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Beltane marks the point in the Wheel of the Year when we celebrate unity, the fertility of our bonds with Nature, and bountiful harvests.

Traditionally celebrated with bonfires and maypoles adorned with ribbons, this gathering symbolizes the return of the Sun and the union of masculine and feminine energies.

We invite you to celebrate with us on May 2 and 3 at Fonte Velha in Canha, the abundance, joy, and magic of this season of blossoming, and the 3rd anniversary of Majalis.

Galeria

Photos by Bernardo Patarra

Below, some more impressions sent in by members of the audience:

Program

May 2 - Saturday

Time	Event	Location
3:00 PM	Opening of the themed market and taverns	Exterior
3:00 PM	Workshop: singing, playing, and making adufes - CRUA - Part 1 (*1)	Bard’s Tent
4:00 PM	Coroa de Alma: introduction to making decorative floral crowns (Inês Prata)	Exterior
6:30 PM	“La Caña” Sevillanas performance (Iris Caldeira)	Bard’s Tent
7:00 PM	Performance by the São Sebastião D.C. Folk and Ethnographic Group of the Parish of Canha	Bard’s Tent
7:30 PM	Procession of the King and Queen of May	Exterior
8:00 PM	Fire Ceremony at sunset (Pardeus and Arraya D’ollos)	Ancestral Woods
9:00 PM	Theater “The Light of Belenos, the Sun God” by MagnaCosta	Bard’s Tent
10:00 PM	Fire Theater “Souls of Fire” Show - Kinessis	Ancestral Woods
10:30 PM	Pirotechnics Display - Kinessis	Ancestral Woods
11:00 PM	Fire Show - Malatitsch	Ancestral Woods
12:00 AM	Closing of the festivities	Exterior

May 3 - Sunday

Time	Event	Location
10:00 AM	Opening of the themed market and taverns	Exterior
10:00 AM	“Cores Selvagens”, short walk, and workshop - Alexandre Correia and Diogo Gomes (*1)	Exterior
10:00 AM	Workshop: singing, playing, and making adufes - CRUA - Part 2 (*1)	Bard’s Tent
11:00 AM	“Coroa de Alma” (All day), introduction to making decorative floral crowns - Inês Prata	Exterior
3:00 PM	NonStop Crew - Joana Maia	Bard’s Tent
4:00 PM	Adufes Performance - CRUA	Bard’s Tent
5:00 PM	Orquestra de Concertinas Sinfonias - Professor Lucília Castanheiro	Bard’s Tent
6:00 PM	Children Are Our Future, Theater Workshop - Kinessis	Ancestral Woods
7:00 PM	The Celtaídas	Exterior
8:30 PM	Majalis Anniversary Celebration	Bard’s Tent
9:00 PM	Fire - Malatitsch	Ancestral Woods
10:00 PM	Closing of the festivities	Exterior

**1: Advance registration required: please purchase your tickets in advance by visiting the link above under Online Tickets.

Workshops and Activities

The Mother Moon Festival will feature several workshops. Find out more about each one below.

CRUA - Singing, playing, and making adufes

Singing and Adufe-Playing Workshops

Fun and artistic in nature, with a focus on traditional rhythms, the sharing of Iberian repertoire, and the interplay between voice and instrument.

Adufe-Making Workshops

The process of making an adufe, from the wooden hoops to the skin stitching and its decorations.

Adufe Show

Performance by the CRUA group with adufes, voices and other percussions.

Infos on the workshops

May 2 (Part 1): starts at 3:00 p.m.
May 3 (Part 2): starts at 10:00 a.m.
Cost: €20 (you get to take your adufe home)
Duration: 2 hours each day
Maximum participants: 20

Cores Selvagens

Hike with Workshop

The activity will begin with a short guided hike along a predetermined route, during which participants will be encouraged to interact with the surrounding habitat. During this hike, techniques will be demonstrated for collecting plant specimens without causing extensive damage to the plant or in a way that allows the plant to recover effectively. In the presence of invasive plants such as acacias, some control methods will also be demonstrated. Participants will also be encouraged to discuss the habitat and interactions between the different organisms in the ecosystem. The walk is expected to last 30 minutes.

Production of natural dyes and experimentation with the produced dyes

The next, more extensive phase of the activity will consist of a demonstration of how dyes are produced and how they behave when applied to paper. The dyes that require more preparation time will be produced in advance for use by the participants. During the phase of producing and using the dyes, information will be provided about the history of these plants (when they were used and introduced in the context of human history), the importance of the plants, and key concepts regarding the ecology and pigmentation of each species. The workshop on producing and experimenting with the dyes is expected to last 1.5 hours.

Infos

May 3: starts at 10 a.m.
Cost: €5
Duration: 2 hours
Maximum participants: 30
Workshop led by Diogo Gomes and Alexandre Correia

Coroa de Alma

Come learn how to make your own flower crown with Inês Prata.

Infos

May 2: starts at 4:00 p.m.
May 3: starts at 11:00 a.m.
Cost: €1 for those who bring their own materials (flowers, branches, ivy, etc.)
Duration: all day
Participant limit: open to everyone.

Malatitsch

The strong presence of this well-known performing arts group takes us into the world of fantasy and mythology. Through the fusion of acrobatics, fire manipulation, masks, and live music, Malatitsch invokes the body as a vehicle for memory and transformation.

Kinessis

Souls of Fire - Fire Theater

A theatrical performance where circus arts, magic, and fire bring two small flames to life.

Theater Workshop for Children

“A luz de Belenos, o Deus Sol” - Theater by MagnaCosta

A play by MagnaCosta, about Belenus, the Celtic god of the sun and fire, related to Beltane festivities.

Sunset Fire Ceremony

Street music shows associated with mysticism, featuring the groups Pardeus and Arraya D’Ollos.

Celtaídas - Traditional Games of Popular Nature

A set of traditional games of a popular nature, whose origin is lost in the mists of time, dating back to Celtic and Celtiberian cultures.

These skill and dexterity tests utilize simple everyday utensils, challenging participants to compete against each other with agility, ingenuity, and physical control. Using sticks, batons, logs, and ropes, each competitor seeks to demonstrate their physical abilities and creativity, with the goal of overcoming the proposed challenges.

Infos

May 3rd: start at 7 p.m.

“La Caña” Sevillanas and Flamenco

LA CAÑA is a young and ambitious group, committed with effort and dedication to learning flamenco since its foundation in 2009. It has been guided by Professor Íris Caldeira since 2013 and is currently based at the Taipadas Recreational and Cultural Society.

NonStop Crew with Joana Maia

Hip Hop and street dance group. Teacher and choreographer: Joana Maia

Folkloric and Ethnographic Group of São Sebastião D.C. from the Parish of Canha

Founded on January 25, 2014, at the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Canha, it brings together songs, dances, and ancestral traditions of the region.

Orquestra de Concertinas Sinfonias

Directed by Professor Lucília Castanheiro, they belong to the group Sinfonias e Eventos Escola de Artes do Montijo.

How to reach us

Map

Public Transportation

For those coming from Montijo:

Linha 4514 | Canha - Montijo / Montijo - Canha

It is recommended to check the schedules before departing.

The Historical Context of Beltane

Let’s travel back in time and celebrate the ancient traditions of the Celts with the Beltane festival, when fire and the moon were honored in a ritual connecting people to the earth and the cycles of nature.

What is Beltane?

Beltane was one of the most important seasonal festivals in the Celtic calendar, marking the transition to the light half of the year. Traditionally celebrated in early May, it marked the peak of the earth’s fertility, the blooming of nature, and the beginning of the season of abundance. It fell between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, serving as a point of balance between growth and fullness.

For the Celtic peoples, this was a time of profound celebration of life and the vital energy that flows through all things. A celebration of the connection between the human and the natural, and a true threshold where the visible and invisible worlds came together.

An invitation to live in harmony with the pulse of the Earth.

The Beltane Fire

The rituals associated with Beltane were deeply connected to fire, which was considered a purifying and vital element.

The Beltane bonfires rose as living symbols of this creative energy. Jumping over the flames of the bonfires or crossing their boundaries was a symbolic gesture celebrating life and the union between humans, nature, and the sacred, invoking the Earth’s protection and abundance. A gesture of trust in the continuity of life, in an intimate dialogue with the forces of nature.

The Mother Moon

The Celts called the May full moon the “Mother Moon,” the Beltane period, which represented the peak of fertility, creativity, and abundance in nature, the moment when nature is most maternal, welcoming, and fertile, caring for the growth of life that began anew in spring.

In Celtic tradition, the Moon was understood as a manifestation of the maternal and protective principle that sustains the cycle of life and existence, a symbol of deep connection with nature and the sacred. Associated with fertility, transformation, and renewal, it signified the ancestral wisdom born from the experience of time.

The so-called Mother Moon of May represented the nurturing and cyclical aspect of the sacred feminine, the mother, guardian of the mysteries of life, transformation, and rebirth.

The Celtic Presence in the Iberian Peninsula

The Celts were ancient peoples who inhabited Central Europe, Ireland, and the British Isles during the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, centuries before Christ.

In the Iberian Peninsula, the Celtic presence is attested from at least the 8th century BC. The various waves of Celtic migrations resulted in coexistence and fusion with the local peoples, called Iberians, integrating a process of cultural fusion that gave rise to the people called Celtiberians.

These communities stood out for their agro-pastoral economy, their organization in fortified hillforts, their use of iron, and their religious practices linked to nature.

The Celtic influence in the Iberian Peninsula left lasting marks, visible in toponymy, linguistic elements, cultural traditions, and archaeological remains. As these peoples were progressively integrated or assimilated into the culture of Roman Civilization, their cultural and symbolic heritage prevailed until our times.

External Links

Some external articles on the Mother Moon Celebration:

O Setubalense » “Associação Majalis vai comemorar aniversário com dois dias de festa”
rostos.pt » “Montijo - Associação Majalis em Canha Celebra 3.º aniversário com dois dias de festa”

Arbor Day 2026

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

On March 20, 2026, with the support of the Canha Parish Council, we celebrated Tree Day at the Canha Ethnographic Museum, which was kindly made available to us.

We planted a tree (Chorosia speciosa), there was a theater performance by “Carreta das Lendas” and Beatriz Boleto, a snack for everyone (Majalis) with juices and muscatel (provided by the Parish Council), and an exhibition featuring works created by groups of friends, associations, and institutions. The trees began to grow, their roots intertwined, and people grew closer together - that’s what Nature is all about! Unity!

Click to open on YouTube

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the groups that worked on this:

Sala de Estudo/CATL Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Canha
EB1 de Canha (directed by Prof. Carlos Veiga)
“Guardiã do Bosque” (Alzira Carrilho, Cristina Comenda, João Barata, Vanda Pereira)
“Árvore das Lembranças” (Animation Team of the Sta. Casa da Misericórdia with Marília R. e Alexandra D.)
“Vidas Entrelaçadas” (Liberato Fernandes, Manuel Veríssimo, Luciano David, Carolina Veríssimo, Agripina David, Cidalisa Fernandes, Mariana Baptista, Marina Martin, Antónia Emídio, Maria Aurora)
“Raízes da Nossa Terra” (Senior Academy of Pegões)
“Árvore da Vida” (Maria José Ferreira, Cidaliza Fernanda, Madalena Barreiros)
“Árvore dos Afetos” Nossa Sra. da Oliveira de Canha Catechism group
Casa do Povo de Canha
“Sentinela da Vida” (Autors: Ana Neves, Carlos Ribeiro, João Jácome, Honorina Silvestre; Collaborators: Maria Cristina, Hugo Grilo, and Rosa Oliveira)
“Pequenas atitudes fazem a Natureza crescer” (Canha Festival Committee)

Gallery

Works exhibited outside

Some other works outside

Animation by Beatriz Boleto

Audience in the museum

"Carreta das Lendas" Theater

"Pequenas Atitudes fazem a Natureza Crescer"

"Guardiã do Bosque"

Planting a tree offered by Majalis in front of the museum

"Raízes de Nossa Terra"

Tree by "Sala de Estudo CATL Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Canha"

"Sentinela da Vida"

"Sombrero de Natureza"

"Vidas Entrelaçadas"

Tree by "Casa do Povo de Canha"

Tree by "EB1 de Canha"

"Árvore da Vida"

"Árvore das Lembranças"

"Árvore dos Afetos"

Jornal Ativa'Mente interviews Honorina Silvestre

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:54:01 +0100

In its December 2025 edition, Jornal Ativa’Mente interviewed Honorina Silvestre.

From left to right: Dr. Anabela Monteiro, Honorina Silvestre, Carolina Veríssimo

The content of the interview is provided below. Alternatively, you can also download the relevant pages of the Jornal: Jornal Ativa’Mente #7 (December 2025) - Interview with Honorina Silvestre (PDF).

CIRCULODEMAJALIS is an Association for Citizenship through Art, Tradition, and Knowledge, based in Canha, in the municipality of Montijo. The Association has played a crucial role in promoting local history and identity through cultural and social initiatives.

Recently, the Association gained great visibility with the organization of the first edition of the Canha Medieval Fair. To learn more about this and other projects, we interviewed the President of the Association, Honorina Silvestre, whom we thank for her availability.

1. Tell us how and when the idea to create the CIRCULODEMAJALIS Association came about. Who were the founders and what were their initial motivations?

Thank you for listening to us and for your kind words.

CIRCULODEMAJALIS is a small socio-cultural organization that was created on the initiative of a few people who love Canha and its rural character. Some are from Canha, others are not. They all share the idea that in today’s society, in our country in particular, the sense of community has been lost, and they all understand that they can give a little of themselves to counteract this way of thinking and being. We are now in our third year of association life, with immense challenges ahead, still without a headquarters (we are waiting for some municipal support to be able to finish it), but with a firm desire to achieve the goals we have set.

The name comes from a plant that is found in all fields where there is water. - the Lily of the Valley (convalária majalis).

We chose it because of its simultaneously pagan and religious meaning. The Circle comes from the deep conviction that accompanies us that life is an incessant circle of life and death, of light and darkness, of renewal.

2. What is the Association’s mission?

Our mission, in a nutshell, is to build citizenship through artistic processes that bring generations together and characterize community identity. We also want others to know and recognize it.

We would like to contribute to the necessary connection between the inhabitants of the eastern and western parts of our municipality.

3. What are the main activities and projects that the Association promotes? How do you assess the community’s receptiveness to your proposals?

We are committed to encouraging anthropological, architectural, archaeological, and historical studies on the eastern part of our municipality, based on the town of Canha.

Without this knowledge, there is no identity. We don’t really know ourselves.

Without knowledge, there can be no evolution that encompasses contemporary issues and traditions, no development that is environmentally and socially grounded. I would like to remind you that we are a sociocultural association; we know that these studies take time and will require diverse involvement.

We can intervene by example and action and, above all, suggest to those responsible for governing this area of the municipality what we consistently consider to be important.

We do not yet have the tools to objectively measure the results of our actions.

But we have succeeded in gaining at least one more member to work with us! And this has been happening! During this period, we have doubled our founding members (40).

We are happy because in recent community actions there has been growing involvement of people (who do not belong to the Association) in the public actions we promote.

So we always celebrate Forest and Tree Day/Poetry Day on March 21 and Creativity Day on November 17.

We try to publish a book every year and get involved in activities that others promote and that are compatible with what we want to do. We also make our anniversary in May a day for sharing the various arts and celebrating friendship.

Every year, we choose a street and evaluate it on several levels. This year, we chose the street(s) that runs in front of our Mother Church and goes to Fonte Velha. I invite you to visit our website (https://circulodemajalis.com/) and follow us on social media (CirculoDeMajalis) to learn more about our activities and also to come and work with us.

4. Who is the target audience for your activities? Do you have specific strategies to reach different age groups or social groups?

The target audience is the general public. We talk about Citizenship.

But in our actions, we give priority to those who can convey important values of community life to younger people.

5. What are the biggest challenges the Association has faced?

The biggest challenges from the point of view of the Association’s existence were:

a) being able to work with people who are scattered, holding meetings for specific groups online and discussing processes and activities;

b) having headquarters where we can organize workshops and promote traditional activities;

c) organizing the Canha Medieval Fair (a challenge, an opportunity to develop tourism through culture and history);

d) and, of course, economic difficulties.

6. How has the Association contributed to the local community?

We find we have drawn attention to the people of Canha and their knowledge.

We also believe we have conveyed the idea of strength that comes from being together, being competent, daring to break with the idea that nothing can be done.

We believe that we are working, in our own way, to affirm a certain community self-esteem that seems to have been dormant.

7. What are the Association’s plans and projects for the coming years?

Our plans remain the same (because they are broad and ongoing). To make happen:

With historical truth

With knowledge sharing

With a desire to integrate more people

With a desire to bring together diverse communities and engage them in the exchange of experiences and traditions, but always with a view to achieving a more socially integrated, supportive, and modern future

8. What message would you like to leave to the readers of Jornal Ativa’Mente?

Believe that dreams guide life at any age for each individual, and that it is worth believing that together we can go further and walk more safely.

Thank you once again for your time and for sharing.

We are very grateful for this opportunity to introduce ourselves.

Canha Medieval Fair '26 at the BTL

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

On the 28th, we were honored to welcome the president of the Lisbon Regional Tourism Authority, Dr. Carla Salsinha, and the councilman of the Montijo City Council, Ilídio Massacote.

We would like to extend a special thank you to the Lisbon Regional Tourism Authority (ERTL), which supported us throughout the event, played an essential role in our presentation, and also confirmed ERTL’s support for this year’s event!

We would also like to thank the Montijo Municipal Council for their presence and for giving us a prominent place in their program for BTL 2026.

Finally, we would like to thank the Canha Parish Council for their presence and support during our presentation.

A big thank you to everyone who attended.

We hope you enjoyed our participation in BTL 2026. We will be revealing a number of surprises soon.

We look forward to seeing you at the Canha Medieval Fair ‘26.

Galery

Canha Medieval Fair ‘25 at BTL

Credits

Photography: Montijo Municipal Council

Canha Medieval Fair '26 will be present at BTL

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

On the 28th of February at 19:30, the CIRCULODEMAJALIS group will be present at the Better Tourism - Lisbon Travel Market (BTL), where they will present the Canha Medieval Fair ‘26. Many surprises will be revealed.

We count with your presence! 👑

Register now for the "Oficinas de Dança" (dance workshop)

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Registration for the “Oficinas de Dança” dance workshop is now open!

In these dance workshops, you will have the opportunity to learn Medieval Dances from various origins (Italian, French, German) to participate in the Medieval Fair and other community events.

Two groups will be formed, one for adults and one for young people, with written authorization required from parents or guardians for those under 16 years of age.

How to Register

You can register by email: circulodemajalis@gmail.com, with the Registration Form filled.

You may ask for additional information by phone at +351 934441630 , or +351 962150073 .

Information

Start date: March 2026
Cost per person: Between €10 and €20 (the price depends on the number of registrations)
Location: Canha (Volunteer Fire Department)
Duration: 2 hours every 15 days

Classes will be taught by instructors Ana Costa and Beatriz Boleto.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Canha Medieval Fair 2026: Registration open for merchants

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Registration is now open for merchants, artisans, craftsmen, and traders for the 2nd Edition of the Canha Medieval Fair 2026.

Read the consultation and participation regulations.

Arbor Day 2026

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

On the 20th of March we will celebrate Arbor Day!

Join us at the Ethnographic Museum of Canha at 16:00 and come and see what we have prepared for you.

We will inaugurate an exhibition in which you can participate:

We provide the base: a pallet (which can be purchased at the Canha Museum). The trees must be made in 3D, with a minimum height of 150 cm, with roots and recycled or natural materials, but they must be waterproof as the exhibition will be held outdoors. Entries must be submitted by March 16th at the Canha Museum.

In addition to the palette, we can provide some basic materials (such as glue, paint, etc.) upon request via private message.

This event will be supported by the Canha Parish Council.

Contacts for further information:

Register now for the "Teatro Raíz de Canha" group!

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Registration is now open for the “Teatro Raíz de Canha” group.

If you like creating characters, improvising, and participating in small off-stage animations in the future, sign up! Two groups will be formed, one for adults and one for young people. Written authorization from parents or guardians is required for children aged 16 and under.

How to register

You can register by email: circulodemajalis@gmail.com, with the Registration Form filled.

You may ask for additional information by phone at: +351 934441630 , ou +351 962150073 .

Details

Start date: March 2026
Cost per person: Between €10 and €20 (the price depends on the number of registrations)
Location: Canha (Volunteer Fire Department)
Duration: 2 hours every 15 days

What to expect from the course

Theater training focused on improvisation techniques and interaction in an off-stage context.
Inclusion in the training of historical aspects relevant to the construction of characters and the interactions between characters and the historical environment.
Possibility of performing during the Canha Medieval Fair 2026 and/or in activities prior to the Fair.

Classes will be taught by accredited trainer Dinis Binnema (already known to everyone for his performances at the 2025 Canha Medieval Fair).

We look forward to seeing you there!

Christmas Market of Pegões

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We would like to thank Associação Arte com Vida for the opportunity to participate in the Pegões Christmas Market, which took place on December 12, 13, and 14, 2025, at the Cruzamento de Pegões church sports center, where we showcased some of the work created during 2025 by the participants of our association.

The party was very well organized and wonderful! Thank you.

Seminar "Migrações, Observar, Conhecer e Pensar os Territórios"

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Our association was invited to participate and provide information.

On December 10, the seminar “Migrations, Observing, Understanding, and Thinking About Territories” will be held at the Sociedade Recreativa do Cruzamento de Pegões. The event will begin at 9:30 a.m.

This seminar is part of the project Rede Intercultural/PRR, OIL of Canha and Pegões.

Join us!

Lunch gathering at Moinho Novo 2025

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

On November 30, we held our second MAJALIS lunch gathering at the beautiful Herdade do Moinho Novo, which our member José Carlos kindly made available free of charge.

It was the day after Creativity Day, so we visited the “Despertares” exhibition with members who were unable to attend the opening.

Three groups that helped us with the Medieval Fair were also invited to the lunch gathering, and we had another opportunity to thank them for their commitment and great help. We also distributed individual participation certificates and those from partner organizations.

Here are some photos of the event (Photos by Bernardo Patarra):

Delivery of the Certificates of Participations to individual and partner groups that helped during the 2025 Medieval Fair

Hightlights of the Lunch gathering

Creativity Day 2025: "Despertares"

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

On November 17, another event organized by CIRCULODEMAJALIS was held at the Canha Ethnographic Museum, entitled “Despertares” (Awakening), celebrating creativity day

Community participation was once again exemplary, with a variety of projects and, as always, spectacular turnout!

After welcoming the children from the EB1/JI school in Canha, who participated for the first time this year with a beautiful piece of work, it was time for speeches from the official representatives. After the exhibition opened, the excitement and conviviality continued with a delicious snack and muscatel, offered by the Canha Parish Council, and some bread rolls kindly provided by Café Central and Maria Adélia Martins.

The event was also enlivened by actor Dinis Binnema, already known for his participation in our Medieval Fair in Canha.

We also had our new member of CIRCULODEMAJALIS, Bernardo Patarra, with his keen eye and talent for capturing with his camera what often escapes the naked eye. A big thank you also to everyone who, without participating directly with their work, helped make this Creativity Day possible, contributing to the growth of our cultural community and raising awareness of the world’s problems. And thank you to our president, Honorina Silvestre, who keeps the wheels turning!

The exhibition will be open during the Canha Museum’s opening hours until the end of December.

Works

“Acorda Oceano” by the Equipa de animação de Sta. Casa da Misericórdia de Canha
“Para a Paz” by the Casa do Povo de Canha, centro de dia e centro de atividades de tempos livres
“O Cibernauta” by Carolina Veríssimo, Cidaliza Fernandes, Ana Neves, Maria José Ferreira, Liberato Fernandes, João Jacome and Honorina Silvestre
“Com amor” by Maria Fernanda Dias Comenda
“A arte de reviver” by Carolina Veríssimo
“Mãos que transformam” by the Academia Sénior de Pegões e Canha
“Presépio” and “Noivos” by Mariana Passos
“É hora de agir” by Alzira Carrilho, Cristina Comenda, Natalina Patarra and Susana Pereira
“Pregos que cantam” by Maria José Ferreira and Cidaliza Fernandes
“Hoje não…” by Sala de estudo da Sta. Casa da Misericórdia de Canha
“O Bairro” by Madalena Barreiros
“Balão” by the EB1/JI school in Canha
“My Edge of Desire” by Vanda Pereira

Gallery

“Androide” by members of CIRCULODEMAJALIS

Some official entities were present

Entities from left to right:

Henrique Gomes (President of the Canha Parish Council)
Eng. Honorina Silvestre (President of CIRCULODEMAJALIS)
Gonçalo Nunes (from the fiscal council of CIRCULODEMAJALIS)
Armando Piteira (Former President of the Canha Parish Council)
Luis Miguel Afonso Dionisio (PS Deputy of the Parish Assembly)
Ricardo Bernardes (PS Councilor)
Dona Anabela Monteiro (President of the General Assembly of CIRCULODEMAJALIS)

Performance by actor Dinis Binnema

“Pregos que cantam” by Maria José Ferreira and Cidaliza Fernandes

Other highlights

Book launch "A voz dos montes e outros poemas" by Gabriel Mendes

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The launch of Gabriel Mendes’ book took place in the beautiful Chapel of St. Anthony (Pátio D’Água), which was very well organized by Mrs. Fernanda Pinho from the Montijo City Council.

With a full “house”, this event was highlighted by an excellent performance by Filipe Silva on guitar and vocals.

After our General Assembly President, Mrs. Anabela Monteiro, gave a brief introduction of who we are and what we do at our association CIRCULODEMAJALIS, it was the turn of Mrs. Esther from the MODOCROMIA publishing house to give a brief editorial explanation.

The writer and director Domingos Lobo presented the book, and was, as expected, eloquent and spectacular in his voice and literary analysis.

Cristina Comenda, Alzira Carrilho, and Rosário Freitas treated us to a reading of three poems by the author, who also gave an emotional speech of thanks to those present.

We were also surprised by the poet and photographer Vitor Costeira (who had an exhibition on the same day), who also read one of the author’s poems.

The event ended with music and socializing over a glass of Muscatel in the chapel’s lobby. Also present at this event were the head of the cultural department, Dr. Manuela Marcelino, and the head of communications for the Montijo City Council (CMM), Mr. Eduardo Martins, who has given so much support to this association. Our thanks to all our MAJALIS friends for their presence and support, and of course also to the CMM team who made this event possible.

With this “One Year, One Book” project, we affirm our willingness to also support the members of our Association! In addition, the donation for each book goes towards anthropological studies in Canha!

Support this cause! The book can be purchased at the following locations:

… and, of course, through our Association by email circulodemajalis@gmail.com.

With the support of Montijo Municipal Council.

Looking for artists for Creativity Day 2025

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

With the theme “Despertares” (Awakenings), MAJALIS invites everyone (friends, associations, individuals) to participate with a creative work using mostly recycled materials (paper, newspaper, fabrics, lace, plastics, wood, cork, etc.) using any techniques you wish (collages, modeling, painting, etc.).

Please inform the Association of the basis on which you will be creating your work and whether you need support. We need to know who is participating by November 2.

The deadline for submission is November 12, 2025!

Contacts:

Email: circulodemajalis@gmail.com
Mobile: 934 441 630 / 962 150 073

"Feira Medieval" submitted to "Turismo de Portugal"

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

We would like to thank Dr. Carla Salsinha, president of the regional tourism board of Lisbon, for her sensitivity in understanding our project, the first edition of the Feira Medieval de Canha (Canha Medieval Fair), and for agreeing to submit it to Turismo de Portugal.

Canha Medieval Fair 2025

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

For three days, Canha, known for its tranquility and natural beauty, was transformed into a true medieval setting.

Useful Links

The oldest town in the municipality of Montijo held a historical reenactment transporting visitors back to 1235, the year in which Vila Nova de Canha received its charter from the Order of Santiago during the reign of King Sancho II.

"Fair Opening"
Click to open on YouTube

The first edition of the Canha Medieval Fair featured a diverse and exciting program. See the full program here.

"Fire Shows"
Click to open on YouTube

Fire shows lit up the nights, while medieval music concerts transported visitors to another era. There were also three major concerts outside the Burgo with Galandum Galundaina, Sebastião Antunes e Quadrilha, and Barro Negro.

"Galandum Galundaina"
Click to open on YouTube

"Sebastião Antunes e Quadrilha"
Click to open on YouTube

Moonlight Suppers

With music, historical reenactments, and plenty of entertainment between courses, “From the Lands of Canha to the Table”, medieval dinners from the time of King Sancho II attracted large crowds.

Tournaments

Weapons and horseback tournaments and parades alluding to the era completed the immersion in the Middle Ages.

"Horse Riding Tournament"
Click to open on YouTube

Dances

There were games for children and adults, traditional and Arabic dances, horsemen, theater, an exhibition of the royal chambers, and a colloquium on Canha in the Middle Ages, facade contests, immersive games, and a whole magical atmosphere of the time with its craftsmen and merchants.

With free admission, this Fair was mainly held within the gates of the village of Canha, in the square and in the Canha Ethnographic Museum, and counted on the indispensable participation of all the groups and associations of Canha: Sta. Casa da Misericórdia, Associação dos Bombeiros Voluntários de Canha, Casa do Povo de Canha, Comissão de Festas, as well as many other groups organized with the people of Canha specifically for this event.

What set the Medieval Fair apart was the quality of the participating groups and the interaction with the local people, who also took part in small theatrical performances and traditional dances, which, thanks to CIRCULODEMAJALIS, made the whole festival the success that it was.

This event was promoted by the Montijo City Council and organized by our association CIRCULODEMAJALIS with the support of the Canha Parish Council and Turismo de Portugal through Dr. Carla Salsinha, president of the Lisbon Region Regional Tourism Authority.

Interview with Honorina Silvestre

President of the CIRCULODEMAJALIS association

Click to open on YouTube

Support and Acknowledgements

Our thanks to Dr. Carla Salsinha, President of the regional tourism authority for the Lisbon region, for her sensitivity in understanding our project for the Canha Medieval Fair, and for her willingness to accept to submit it to Portugal Events*.

Application to Portugal Events

External Links

Some external articles on this year’s edition of the Canha Medieval Fair:

Exposição "Aves em Canha" no Montijo

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

From June 26 to July 2, 2025, during the St. Peter festivities in Montijo, CIRCULODEMAJALIS was present with the traveling exhibition “Aves em Canha” by Cristina Archer.

Some pictures of the event:

Click to open on YouTube

IIⁿᵈ Majalis Anniversary

Sat, 17 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

On May 17th, we celebrated our Majalis Anniversary.

Watch the video of the event here:

Click to open on YouTube

The gathering took place at the Canha Volunteer Fire Department with the show “A Lily in the Heart”. The room was too small for so many people, which made us very happy and grateful. We started with the Cavaquinhos Sinfonias Group and the Serenatas e Sinfonias ao Luar Group, followed by a performance by the Pegões and Canha Senior Academy. The children of the Banda da Casa do Povo de Canha showed off their musical skills, and Cláudia and Manuel Veríssimo treated us, as usual, to their beautiful voices.

There was a poem recited by Maria do Rosário, and Joana Maia’s Hip Hop dance group left everyone speechless, young and old alike, with their rhythm and excellent choreography. The Sevillanas La Caña and the Folkloric and Ethnographic Ranch of Santa Casa da Misericórdia, who have already accustomed us to their quality, were also there and were greatly applauded!

Finally, our cake, for which some members of CIRCULODEMAJALIS rushed to provide the ingredients, was deliciously prepared under the guidance of Rosa Oliveira and baked at Santa Casa.

A special thanks to all the participants and helpers who made this wonderful day possible!

Acknowledgments

World Tree Day 2025

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

On March 21st, at the invitation of the CIRCULODEMAJALIS Association and jointly organized with the Canha Ethnographic Museum, magic happened!

With the participation of associations, groups, families, communities, residents of Canha, and others, the collective exhibition of the Enchanted Forest (Floresta Encantada) delighted young and old alike, drawing attention to the importance of forest preservation. We all have art within us, let’s use it to change the world!

Well done!

Here is a video illustrating the event:

Click to open on YouTube

Schedule

4:00 p.m. - Planting of plant species in the vertical garden with the help of Catl. and seniors from Casa do Povo, Canha Preschool, and Catl. and seniors from Sta. Casa da Misericórdia. Location: Rua do Lagar in Canha.

Around 4:30 p.m. - Opening of the exhibition “The Enchanted Forest” with poetry recitation followed by a social gathering. Location: Ethnographic Museum of Canha

Panels

Curation by Mafalda Saltão and Honorina Silvestre

“Árvore Colorida” by Sala de estudo da Sta. Casa da Misericórdia de Canha
“Raízes em Movimento” by Academia Sénior de Pegões e Canha
“O Enraizar da Vida” by the Pereira Family
“Arvore de Esperança” by the Veríssimo and Carvalheira Family
“Como Galhos de uma Árvore todos crescemos em direções diferentes, mas a raiz é a mesma” by the animation team of the Sta. Casa da Misericórdia de Canha
“Florescer” by Anabela Novais Castro
“De uma Árvore nascem várias” by children from the CATL Casa do Povo de Canha
“Passado, presente e futuro” by the voluntary firefighters of Canha
“Árvore Encantada” by Ana Comenda and Lurdes Correia
“Somos uma Família” by the Canha school
“Arbor dos Passarinhos” by Fernanda and Natalina Patarra
“Árvore Primavera” by Silvia Rodrigues and Anabela Monteiro
“A Primavera” by Mariana Marques, Carolina Veríssimo, Maria Aurora Veríssimo, Agripina David, Cidalina, Inês Mestre, and Liberato Fernandes
“Florir a vida” by Centro de Dia da Casa do Povo de Canha
“Hamadraia e o Pequeno Sol” by Rosa Oliveira
“Árvore da Paz” by Catequese de paróquia de N. Sra. da Oliveira
“Brilho da Poesia” by Alzira Carrilho and Cristina Comenda
“Plantar uma Árvore e Cuidar do Amanhã” by the Comissão de Festas de Canha
“Consciencializar” by Hélder Piteira
“Botão de Esperança” by Honorina Silvestre

Acknowledgments

Canha Medieval Fair '25 at BTL

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

At 18:30 on Saturday, March 15, 2025, we were at the BTL, at FIL in Lisbon, which is the country’s largest tourism fair, promoting the Canha Medieval Fair, together with the Montijo City Council. There was live music, tastings and lots of entertainment. Our thanks to the Montijo City Council and especially to everyone who came to visit us!

Below are some impressions of the event:

Click to open on YouTube

Lunch at the Herdade do Moinho Novo

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

On November 24th, following the event “Rendilhadas”, we had our get-together at Herdade do Moinho Novo, whose space was generously made available to the Association by the owner. As we were already in the Advent, it was also our Christmas meeting.

Rendilhadas / Creativity Day 2024

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

MAJALIS celebrates Creativity Day annually, recognizing that each person’s creativity is the surest tool for adapting to social changes and facing the challenges of new times, ensuring a life of quality.

This principle is one of the pillars of our work, which we wish to continue to develop.

The Challenge to the Community

This year, we launched a challenge to the community: to reuse unused lace and, with it, build a tribute to women. Women, whom we recognize as the main workers in this type of work, were the central focus of this initiative.

The project involved the collaboration of senior and junior users of Santa Casa da Misericórdia and Casa do Povo de Canha. It was a joint effort, carried out with commitment and sharing.

Opening of the Exhibition

We inaugurated the exhibition with the participation of those who contributed to the project and with the presence of the community who were able and willing to collaborate.

The moment was celebrated with a gathering around roasted chestnuts and água-pé, kindly provided by the Canha Parish Council.

Here is the link to the film of the event:

Click to open on YouTube

Acknowledgments

Exposition / Book Launch "Memórias com Asas"

Sat, 31 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In September 2024, we held the presentation of the book “Memórias com Asas” (Memories with Wings) and the exhibition “Aves em Canha” (Birds in Canha) at our headquarters, which was still undergoing the necessary renovations.

This book proposes a rural and an urban walking trail, through which people can discover the birds of the region.

Studies, interviews, illustrations, photographs, observation trails, and the graphic presentation of the book were all prepared by some of our members.

The illustrations in the book were done by Cristina Archer and the originals were used to create the exhibition.

Two wine tastings took place in parallel:

one by the Stanley Ho Foundation, with wines produced in the Canha floodplains
another of organic wines from Herdade do Alto do Pina, in the parish of Poceirão.

This was followed by a moment of conviviality between the Associates and the Community:

Click to open on YouTube

Acknowledgements

World Tree Day 2024

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

To celebrate this day, we created a special bonsai tree with the help of the community. This collective work was made from recycled materials from other construction projects (pipes, coatings, wood, nets, etc.), as well as leftover wool and wool purchased by all the participants.

A total of 1390 pom-poms were made, which were carefully crafted over the course of several weeks.

On March 21st, with the collaboration of children and young people from the parish, a magnolia tree was planted in the front garden of the Canha Ethnographic Museum, symbolizing our commitment to nature.

The planting was accompanied by some senior residents of Santa Casa da Misericórdia, who also participated in this meaningful action. After the task, we had the privilege of welcoming the community involved in the project, as well as those who were able to attend.

Everyone found the bonsai an interesting piece of work, and many took the opportunity to take pictures next to it, celebrating the art and the environment.

Next, we held a community snack, the main objective of which was to share and promote healthy foods, strengthening the spirit of unity and care for our health and the planet.

The children took home a pom-pom, along with a small brochure that explained the importance of trees in the environment and in the lives of all beings that inhabit our planet.

Acknowledgments

Canha Festivities / "Momento" Gallery

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

So we began with the first MAJALIS Exhibition in 2023… Organized by Ricardo Cruzes and curated by architect Carlos Ribeiro at the Ethnographic Museum of Canha.

Ricardo Cruzes was born in France. He graduated in “Painting and Communication Design” from ARCA-EUAC, where he had the opportunity to study with great names such as Armando Azevedo, João Dixo, and António Modesto.

After gaining experience in the business world as a manager and producer of creative projects in various design disciplines, in 2008 he decided to intensify his artistic activity, holding his first public demonstrations in 2009.

Ricardo Cruzes is currently Artist in Residence at LAC - Laboratório de Atividades Criativas (Creative Activities Laboratory) in Lagos, Portugal, where he has been practicing art full-time since April 2021.

At the invitation of MAJALIS, he exhibited some of his works during the Festas de Nossa Sra. da Oliveira in 2023.

Acknowledgments

Iˢᵗ Majalis Anniversary

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Our anniversary is celebrated in May, on a date to be determined.

And it is in May because the lily of the valley (our Majalis) is the flower of May. However, this first anniversary was celebrated on June 1.

We brought our members together with the community who were able and willing to attend. At the Canha Fire Station, there were:

The Sevillanas of Canha: La Canha
The Ethnographic Ranch of Canha
The children of the SCM of Canha’s CATL
The Academy of Seniors of Canha and Pegões

These entities performed after the dramatization of the legend of the nightingale and the lily of the valley. The presentation featured performances by Cláudia Carvalheira (who also sang), Tiago Almeida, Diana Almeida, as well as the younger children from catechism class.

Then we sang Happy Birthday!

About us

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

About CIRCULODEMAJALIS

CIRCULODEMAJALIS headquarters during the 2025 Medieval Fair

Founded January 13th 2023, the non-profit association CIRCULODEMAJALIS aims to:

develop solidarity and social responsibility among citizens,
value creativity and culture as pillars of freedom and drivers of change, and
build bridges between communities and other associations.

Among other activities, these are part of our action plan:

Workshops
Reuse of materials (World Tree Day, Rendilhadas)
Art galleries (Aves em Canha, Rendilhadas)
Recreation of historic events (2025 Medieval Fair)
Create conditions for community participation by all residents
Create activities that recreate traditional events: bread making, lace and embroidery, gardening, traditional crafts, pottery, etc. (Rendilhadas)
Collaboration in decorating the streets for the Canha Festivities
Book publications (Memórias com Asas)
Creation of an annual event focusing on music and art in May
Study of streets
Create a public meeting place where art is present
Complete the construction work at headquarters

General Assembly

President: Anabela dos Santos Monteiro Domingues
Vice President: Cláudia Isabel Veríssimo Carvalheira
Secretary: Sara Raquel Martinho Salgueiro Maia

Administration

President: Honorina Maria Pereira Silvestre
Vice President: Ana Patrícia Neves Santos
Secretary: Ana Rita Godinho Galego
Treasurer: Maria do Rosário Ferreira Dias
Voting Member: Pedro David Sousa Neves
Reserve Member: Maria Lisete Gomes Perrin de Almeida
Reserve Member: Bruna Scherdien dos Santos
Reserve Member: Sandra Ferrão Coelho

Audit Committee

President: Gonçalo Nuno Serôdio Nunes
Reporting Member: Maria Filomena Marques Vicente
Voting Member: Linda Jesus Arsénio Lavado Ribeiro
Reserve Member: José Luís Pereira dos Santos Amaral
Reserve Member: Carla Maria Rodrigues Abreu
Reserve Member: Ruben Neves

Contact

Address: Rua Mário Salgueiro N. 28, 2985-010 Canha, Portugal
Mobile: +351 96 21500 73
Email: circulodemajalis@gmail.com

Join us!

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Come and join MAJALIS!

Registration Form

To become a member of CIRCULODEMAJALIS, you must fill out a registration form and send it to circulodemajalis@gmail.com. As a member, the annual fee is €12.

CIRCULODEMAJALIS

Canha Medieval Fair 2026

Volunteer Registration Open for the 2026 Canha Medieval Fair

Royal Court Wanted for a Day at the 2026 Canha Medieval Fair

Royal Couple Wanted for a Day at the 2026 Canha Medieval Fair

Mother Moon Celebration - 3rd Majalis Anniversary

Contents

Galeria

Program

May 2 - Saturday

May 3 - Sunday

Workshops and Activities

CRUA - Singing, playing, and making adufes

Singing and Adufe-Playing Workshops

Adufe-Making Workshops

Adufe Show

Infos on the workshops

Cores Selvagens

Hike with Workshop

Production of natural dyes and experimentation with the produced dyes

Infos

Coroa de Alma

Infos

Malatitsch

Kinessis

Souls of Fire - Fire Theater

Theater Workshop for Children

“A luz de Belenos, o Deus Sol” - Theater by MagnaCosta

Sunset Fire Ceremony

Celtaídas - Traditional Games of Popular Nature

Infos

“La Caña” Sevillanas and Flamenco

NonStop Crew with Joana Maia

Folkloric and Ethnographic Group of São Sebastião D.C. from the Parish of Canha

Orquestra de Concertinas Sinfonias

How to reach us

Map

Public Transportation

The Historical Context of Beltane

What is Beltane?

The Beltane Fire

The Mother Moon

The Celtic Presence in the Iberian Peninsula

Poster for social networks

External Links

Arbor Day 2026

Gallery

Jornal Ativa'Mente interviews Honorina Silvestre

Canha Medieval Fair '26 at the BTL

Galery

Related events

Credits

Canha Medieval Fair '26 will be present at BTL

Register now for the "Oficinas de Dança" (dance workshop)

How to Register

Information

To share on social media

Canha Medieval Fair 2026: Registration open for merchants

Arbor Day 2026

Register now for the "Teatro Raíz de Canha" group!

How to register

Details

What to expect from the course

Share in Social Media

Christmas Market of Pegões

Seminar "Migrações, Observar, Conhecer e Pensar os Territórios"

Lunch gathering at Moinho Novo 2025

Delivery of the Certificates of Participations to individual and partner groups that helped during the 2025 Medieval Fair

Hightlights of the Lunch gathering

Creativity Day 2025: "Despertares"

Works

Gallery

Other highlights

Book launch "A voz dos montes e outros poemas" by Gabriel Mendes

Looking for artists for Creativity Day 2025

To share on social media:

"Feira Medieval" submitted to "Turismo de Portugal"

Canha Medieval Fair 2025

Useful Links

Moonlight Suppers