The Festa do Menino of Vila Chã de Braciosa, in Miranda do Douro, has been inscribed in Portugal's National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage under Urgent Safeguarding. A pagan winter solstice ritual on January 1st — and a compelling reason to plan your New Year's in northern Portugal.

The sun had barely set above the hilltops when there was already movement in Atenor. Not the hurried movement of cities—but the movement of long ears perking up, curious, when someone approaches the fence. Miranda's donkeys wake up slowly, like almost everything else on the plateau.