Entrudio en Viana do Bolo
The carnival in Viana do Bolo has a name of its own: Entroido. This name is closely linked to elements deeply rooted in the traditions and rituals of the area, which give the Entroido a unique character in this town in the eastern part of the province of Ourense.
The Carnival of Viana do Bolo is one of the oldest, most original, and traditional carnivals celebrated in Galicia. Its origins are found in pre-Roman agricultural and livestock purification rites, and it has continued to be celebrated since the early 20th century.
Fulións, boteiros, comparsas...
“Fulións”, “boteiros”, “comparsas”, “mula”, and “patumada” or floats define a celebration where the playful and the earthly live together in harmony.
All accompanied, as is customary in Galicia, by a quality gastronomy that also in Viana has a reference product: "androlla”.
”Entrudio” is a sensory journey where visitors enjoy decades of traditions brought to the present.
Social Commitment
Synonym
The celebration of Entroido in Viana do Bolo has managed to inspire each year the local community of this town in Ourense, with the enthusiasm needed to participate in its organization and planning.
The success achieved in the traditional carnival celebrations has led to a new event, the Mascarada Ibérica, which brings together a considerable number of masks from various parts of the Iberian Peninsula every year.
All of this is driven by the Folións Rurais de Viana Association, based in this town in Ourense, and made up of people committed to preserving the tradition of Entroido. Founded in 2011, it was created with the goal of revaluing and recovering the spirit of the Entroido.
In Viana do Bolo, there is also a second association called the Robreda Association, which was founded in 2019 to ensure the continuity and respect for traditions.
Characters
Fulións
“Entrudio” vibrates to the sound of these peculiar musical groups that tour the towns of the municipality of Viana do Bolo, visiting each other in a rhythmic alliance of communities. In the “fulións”, the percussion of the bass drums is combined with other improvised instruments: shovels, scythes, and other farming tools from which sounds are extracted.
From two weeks before the start of the carnival, different “fulións” roam the streets of Viana's towns, preparing the population for the arrival of the festival. These “fulións”, led by the “boteiros”, have their big day on Fat Sunday, when they participate with floats in the central parade of the carnival festivities.
Boteiro
The figure of the “boteiro” is undoubtedly the most representative of Viana's Entrudio. This character is the master of ceremonies of the “fulión” in his charge, leading it with races and jumps.
His peculiar attire consists of a shirt with strips of fabric sewn on, forming colorful lines and figures. Lace and trimmings also adorn the trousers, made of red fabric. On the belt, the bells dance announcing the presence of the “boteiro”.
The central element of the costume is its screen, a structure composed of wire covered in strips of colored tissue paper. The mask covering the face of the person acting as “boteiro” is also very representative, with its mask painted black highlighting a wide, mocking, and intimidating smile.
The costume is completed with the "monca," a long stick with which this character clears his way.
Mula
Another of the elements that make “Entrudio” unique in Viana do Bolo. This creature consists of a framework that imitates the animal, under which two people hide who are responsible for moving the structure.
The mule parades with the “fulións” and stands out as one of the most rebellious carnival figures. The one in charge of directing it is the "maragato." The animal continually disobeys its driver, between kicks and sudden movements, and clears the way for the procession while interacting with the public.
Patumada
This “Entrudio” character remains exclusive to one of the villages within the municipality:” Fornelos de Filloás”. The patumada assumes an animal-like guise and parades alongside the “fulión” and the “boteiro”.
Heir to a varied tradition of characters within the proceessions, its recovery is recent and enriches the cultural diversity that is the Viennese Carnival.
Comparsas and Disputes
Comparsas are groups of neighbors from the same village, who traverse the streets of the towns of Viana do Bolo to perform a series of theatrical representations in a satirical and humorous tone: the disputes.
These pieces feature a series of fixed characters or roles that are repeated, such as the director, the lady or madam, the clown, the musicians, the “boteiros”, and the "vellos das esquilas." In their plots, the disputes explore stories and situations from everyday life, revisited through wit, humor, and mischief.
A tradition reminiscent not only of neighboring municipalities, such as the "foliadas" of Vilariño de Conso or Manzaneda, but also of other distant carnivals.
Photo: Agustín Hernández
The Floats
In the parade of “fulións and boteiros” on Fat Sunday in Viana do Bolo, there is a third protagonist: the floats. These mobile monuments are crafted by different localities and collectives within the municipality.
The floats depict various motifs, from everyday occasions in the village to scenes related to current events, passing through allegorical themes.
Their elaboration is an ode to craftsmanship, where all kinds of materials coexist through structured scaffolding under complex mechanics.
Lardeiro and Lardeira
Other key characters of Entrudio, which find their correspondence in Viana do Bolo, are the "lardeiro" and the "lardeira." On Compadres' Thursday, ten days before the start of the carnival, the women of the village hang the "lardeiro," a doll dressed in the clothes of the men of the village that traditionally, these men had to try to take down.
A week later, it is the turn of the locals, who are responsible for preparing and hanging the "lardeira," this time dressed in garments of the women of Viana.
This peculiar couple will remain hanging until “Entrudio's Tuesday” when it will be sought out to be burned at midnight on Ash Wednesday.
Fariñada
In the fights between men and women to hang and unhung the "lardeiro" and "lardeira," battles of flour or "fariñadas" occur, in which any person who happens to be in the village, whether fortunate or not, becomes involved.
Far from being limited to Compadres' and Comadres' Thursdays, "fariñadas" are common during the days of Viana's Entrudio. At any moment, in any locality of the municipality, a flour war can begin.
VIANA DO BOLO 2025 AVTIVITY CALENDAR
February 15 – Women's Fulión
The Entroido celebrations kick off with the parade of the women's fulión, which will march through the town starting at noon.
February 20. Compadres' Thursday.
At midnight on Compadres’ Thursday, the women of the town hang the lardeiro in the Main Square. In the late afternoon, the fulións will parade through Viana, followed by a massive flour battle (fariñada) involving the entire community. The festivities will conclude with a musical performance.
February 22. Comparsas.
The comparsas visit various locations within the municipality of Viana do Bolo. In the morning, starting at 11 AM, they will head to the village of Seoane de Arriba. In the afternoon, they will visit the village of Mourisca, followed by fariñada (a traditional dish) and the fulións.
February 23 – Exhibition
The opening of the exhibition "O Noso Entroido, un cachiño de cada casa" (Our Entroido, a Little Piece of Every Home) will take place at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall exhibition hall.
February 27. Comadres' Thursday.
From 8:00 PM, the fariñada (flour battle) and fulións return to the streets, followed by various musical performances lasting well into the night.
In the morning, the spotlight is on Viana do Bolo's youth, with a parade starting at 11:00 AM featuring students from CEIP Bibei and the fulión of IES Carlos Casares.
From eight in the evening, the "fariñada" and the fulións return to the streets of the town, followed by various musical performances until late at night.
In the morning, the spotlight is on Viana do Bolo's youth, with a parade starting at 11:00 AM featuring students from CEIP Bibei and the fulión of IES Carlos Casares.
From eight in the evening, the "fariñada" and the fulións return to the streets of the town, followed by various musical performances until late at night.
March 1 – Entroido Saturday
Saturday is once again a day for the comparsas to parade through the various villages of Viana do Bolo. In the morning, they will visit the Santuario do Padre Eterno. In the afternoon, they will head to Pradocabalos.The day will conclude with the traditional fariñada (flour battle), fulións, and live music.
March 2. Fat Sunday.
Domingo Gordo is, as its name suggests, the main day of the Entroido celebrations. In the morning, fulións and boteiros from Viana do Bolo, neighboring towns, and even Portugal will gather, along with Viana’s parade floats, to take part in the grand procession.
Afterward, the Festa da Androlla will celebrate its 53rd edition, featuring a communal meal where attendees can enjoy this traditional dish along with other regional and seasonal specialties. In the afternoon, the fulións will once again take to the streets, followed by live musical performances.
Afterward, the Festa da Androlla will celebrate its 53rd edition, featuring a communal meal where attendees can enjoy this traditional dish along with other regional and seasonal specialties. In the afternoon, the fulións will once again take to the streets, followed by live musical performances.
March 3. Entroido Monday.
Monday afternoon is dedicated to the youngest members of Viana do Bolo. The children’s fulión will parade through the town center, followed by games, entertainment, and music.
The day will conclude with the "Fulión Trapalleiro", where traditional drums are replaced with pots, pans, and other household items to mimic the sound of a classic fulión in a fun and playful way.
The day will conclude with the "Fulión Trapalleiro", where traditional drums are replaced with pots, pans, and other household items to mimic the sound of a classic fulión in a fun and playful way.
March 4 – Martes de Entroido.
The other big day of the carnival in Viana do Bolo is Martes de Entroido (Fat Tuesday). Fulións and boteiros will once again march through the streets of the town starting in the morning, and in the afternoon, the last battles of flour take place. At midnight, the fulións parade to the Plaza Mayor of the town, where the burning of the lardeiro and lardeira takes place. A costume contest and a dance bring an end to the final day of festivities.
March 5 – Ash Wednesday
The Carnival period officially ends on Ash Wednesday, which in Viana do Bolo is marked by the Burial of the Sardine procession. Mourners accompany the symbolic funeral through the streets in a theatrical farewell to Entroido.
After the procession, a community sardine feast (sardinada) in the Cabo da Vila neighborhood bids farewell to the festival until the following year.
After the procession, a community sardine feast (sardinada) in the Cabo da Vila neighborhood bids farewell to the festival until the following year.
Videos of the Viana do Bolo Entroido
Gastronomy
“Entrudio” in Galicia has its own gastronomy, with "cocido," "filloas," and "orellas" as its main emblems. In Viana do Bolo, this is joined by a unique product: "androlla," the protagonist of its own festival since 1970, which coincides with Fat Sunday.
"Androlla" consists of a smoked, thick casing filled with marinated and chopped pork ribs, reminiscent of "botelo" from El Bierzo. The festival is usually accompanied by other typical foods of the season and the region, and for dessert, a sweet typical of the area: "bica de Viana," a kind of buttery sponge cake.
Androlla festival
This gastronomic festival has been celebrated in Viana do Bolo since 1970. The star of the show is the "androlla," which gathers thousands of enthusiasts in this unique celebration of local cuisine.
This product is made with marinated pork ribs stuffed into thick casings, smoked, and cured.
In the menu of the "Festa da Androlla", it is common to find other typical products of Galician cuisine for this season, such as "lacón con grelos" (pork shoulder with turnip greens) and "cachelos" (boiled potatoes). "Cocido" is the quintessential meal of Entrudio in the region, which combines pork-derived products such as "cachucha," "cacheira," chorizo, bacon, or the aforementioned "lacón".
On the sweet side, it is typical to serve "bica de Viana" at the festival. "Bica," a buttery sponge cake with multiple versions throughout Galicia, has its own identity in the Viana territory, and is recognized as such on this occasion. Wines, liqueurs, and the traditional "queimada" accompany the meal.
Viana do Bolo
Viana do Bolo Viana do Bolo presents an interesting mix of historical and natural heritage, making it a tourist destination with much to offer. As the writer Ramón Otero Pedrayo summarized, Viana "does not resemble other Galician towns... that overshadowed the old town center. It preserves its village structure around the square; it has the appearance of a city. The old bridge, the deep riverside paths of Camba and Bibei, the nearby villages such as San Mamede, offer walks and landscapes of captivating beauty."
More information
For more information about dates and events of the Entruido in Viana Do Bolo, you can contact the Town Hall of the locality.
