Carnival is a time when the streets come alive with color, music, and curiosity. It’s a celebration of creativity and freedom, where social rules are briefly turned upside down.
One of the most curious and humorous traditions is the matrafonas: men dressing up as women in exaggerated, playful costumes, embracing silliness and satire rather than realism.
Parades fill the streets with decorated cars, music, and dancing, bringing communities together in a joyful, shared spectacle. Carnival isn’t just about dressing up; it’s about expressing identity, laughing at norms, and celebrating together before everyday life resumes.
Alegria – Joy, happiness; the feeling of fun and excitement during celebrations.
Fantasia – Costume; dressing up in creative, colorful, or imaginary outfits.
Sátira – Satire; humor or mockery that exaggerates or criticizes social norms or behaviours.
Comunidade – Community; the group of people coming together to celebrate and participate.
Desfile – Parade; organized procession with floats, music, and performers, typical in Carnival.
About Anita
Olá, my name is Anita! I was born and raised on the beautiful Alentejo coast of Portugal, but I’ve been living in the Algarve for over 26 years, a region that continues to inspire my love for language, culture, and connection.
I am a university-qualified teacher and have been teaching Portuguese since 2005, transitioning to online teaching in 2020 to reach students worldwide. This led to the founding of Portuguese With Anita, one of the largest communities of Portuguese learners, with over 200,000 followers on its platforms. What began as an unexpected opportunity, teaching small groups of expats and Portugal-lovers, quickly became a true passion.
Over the years, I’ ve had the privilege of serving as Pedagogical Director of an international school in the Algarve, where I designed complete Portuguese language programs for both children and adults. This experience shaped my teaching approach and motivated me to bring all my knowledge into an accessible online format.
To date, I’ve helped over 6,000 students from many different countries learn Portuguese.
Whether my students want to move to Portugal, communicate with loved ones, reconnect with their roots, or simply learn a language they love, my goal is always the same: to help them feel confident, supported, and truly connected to the Portuguese language and culture.
Let’ s learn Portuguese together! Vamos!
Feel free to check out my website or follow me on my social media:
W: https://www.portuguesewithanita.com/homepage
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/portuguesewithanita
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@portuguesewithanita
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PortuguesewithAnita
Photo courtesy of Depositphotos.com
