15/08/2026
“DIA DO SALOIO”
A day that is more than a tradition, it’s a community event where people gather to celebrate the old customs of a region, of a country.
“The tradition dates back to rural communities who, every 15th of August, would dress in their Sunday best and travel to the coast by cart and by foot for a day at the beach, a farewell to summer before the grape harvest season began. They would arrive, free the animals and cook lunch together, a day of food, wine, and community that lasted well into the afternoon. Today it’s kept alive through an ethnographic procession that recreates it, a symbol of gathering, sharing, and the strengthening of social bonds within the community.”
Organized by Câmara Municipal de Torres Vedras, it’s a real must-see if you’re ever around this time of year.
I’m grateful I had the chance to photograph this back in 2018, when my career as a photographer was really just beginning, then a solo exhibition in 2021 “Um Passeio com Tradição,” and last year I decided to go back and photograph it again, this time with a new set of eyes, the eyes of a photographer who has evolved over the years.
It’s a challenging event to shoot. Crowded, chaotic, something happening in every direction, but I love a good challenge, and there’s something about that unpredictability that keeps me coming back.
Today the tradition repeated itself once again, and again I went to say hi to my now-friends from Rancho Folclórico Flores do Oeste, but this year just to enjoy and be present with them. Still, I could never resist taking a few extra shots, because they always inspire me. Traditional events are something I absolutely adore photographing, because they are also legacy.
Even in days like this motherhood never takes a rest. It’s lovely to see, generation after generation, how these traditions get passed down, carried forward by the smallest ones without them even knowing it yet.
Thank you Rancho "Flores do Oeste" for always receiving me with so much care, every single year. It’s a pleasure to be part of this day with you. Maybe one year I’ll dress up just like you guys, but with a camera as extra luggage...
Full slideshow up on my story — go take a look 🤍
