The "Feira dos Capões", well known for being the fair of the castrated roosters, takes place at the Freamunde parish on december 13th. It is the only event of that kind in Portugal and it has taken place at least since the 15th century and it was oficialized by a king's decree on August 3rd 1719. According to the specialists, the fact that a rooster is castrated makes him fatter and stimulates his growth, thus making his meat better tasting. Passed on throughout the generations, the art of castrating demands great skill and precision. Otherwise, the rooster may become "rinchão", …
This is a centuries old tradition of when the "pacences" took their picnics to the Cô Fair where they spent the day to sell a pork or cabbages. The "Feira das Merendas" reminds us of this historic tradition, with plenty of regional food, such as the "cod pataniscas", "rojões", "papas de sarrabulho", "cebolinhos em vinho"; fried and roast sardines in onions sauce, "iscas de fígado", "chispe de porco", "moelas", "dobrada", "fradinho beans" and regional sweets. Apart from these tidbits, the organizers offer a most lively popular and cultural program.
A regional initiative that means to contribute to divulging the regional territory by giving the rest of Portugal na image of quality. The "Encontro de Música das Terras do Sousa" (Music Meeting of Terras do Sousa) to divulge among the population of the Sousa Valley a musical genre that is little divulged in the region. An offer of different moments and a way of divulging other forms of culture.
