Portugal's Winter Masquerade
With colorful costumes and ancient masks, spectators and participants alike gather in the streets of Salsas, Portugal to celebrate the annual winter masquerade. Many of these masquerades are of ancient origin and can often be traced to pre-Christian Celtic and often pre-Roman traditions around the renewal of fertility and life and the end of winter.
AP photographer Daniel Ochoa de Olza covered this year's events and below is a gallery of his work.
In this photo taken on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, a 'Careto de Lazarim' sits during a winter masquerade gathering in Salsas, Portugal. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
In this photo taken on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, participants take part in a winter masquerade gathering in Salsas, Portugal. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
In this photo taken on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, a man fits his mask during a winter masquerade gathering in Salsas, Portugal. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
In this photo taken on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, a couple dressed as characters from 'la Vaquilla' wearing ancient masks pose for a photo, during a winter masquerade gathering in Salsas, Portugal. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
Photos by Daniel Ochoa De Olza
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