A group of conservative women, led by Rita Matias and accompanied by three others, issued a public alert regarding the pauliteiras tradition of Miranda do Douro. The pauliteiras are a traditional dance from Trás-os-Montes characterized by the rhythm created when men hit wooden sticks against each other.
The conservative women in question made a controversial statement by affirming that "only men should hit each other with the sticks," arguing that this activity should remain exclusively male.
In their statement, these women added that "what is ancestral and beautiful is applauding several men hitting their sticks against other sticks," thus seeking to distinguish between what they consider authentic tradition and what they reject.
The piece was published in the satirical newspaper O Inimigo Público, a publication known for its humorous and critical tone, which contextualizes the provocative nature of the statement and the way the pauliteiras tradition was addressed in this debate.
