Around a thousand women walked through the streets of Viana do Castelo on August 19th in the Mordomia Parade, one of the main moments of the Romaria de Nossa Senhora d'Agonia. The participants dressed in traditional costumes, including Trajes à Vianesa, Mordoma, Festa da Ribeira, Morgada and Cerimónia, many of them accompanied by family gold pieces passed down through generations and only publicly displayed on this occasion. The event was followed by thousands of people along the route.
The parade brought together women of various ages and backgrounds. Rosa Correia, 78 years old, from Darque, participated again dressed as Morgada, following a tradition that now also includes her 16-year-old granddaughter. Letícia Portela, 15 years old, born in Portugal but raised in France, participated for the first time wearing the Geraz do Lima costume, highlighting the importance of the event in maintaining the connection to the land where she was born. Elly Barbosa, 25 years old, lived and was born in New Jersey, United States, but traveled to Viana do Castelo to parade in the Serra d'Arg costume, maintaining the connection to Portugal through a folklore group called Rancho Folclórico Casa do Minho.
According to the organization's data, the thousand spots planned for the 2026 edition were filled in just two days, with 766 participants from the municipality of Viana do Castelo itself, 181 from other Portuguese municipalities and 53 from the diaspora. Alícia Sousa participated again dressed as Mordoma Azul, representing the Folklore Group of the Lavradeiras from Meadela.
The Mordomia Parade originated in 1968, initiated by ethnographer Amadeu Costa, inspired by the old parish processions during which the young mordomas would travel to the city to greet civil and religious authorities. The Romaria de Nossa Senhora d'Agonia took place between August 15
