Two dozen residents of Paris in the Algarve, which has suffered from depopulation in recent years, decorated the village for the first time with materials left over from nature to celebrate Christmas and revive the traditions of yesteryear.
From Tomé, the oldest resident, 92 years old, to Gil, the youngest, 10 years old, all 21 residents of the village, located in the municipality of Sant Bras de Alportel, Faro district, participated in the transformation of Paris into the village of Natal. green, an initiative that runs from today until Sunday.
Christmas set the tone for the decoration of 30 village houses (only seven are occupied today) with a message centered on sustainability, using natural materials from the São Brasense Mountains and recycled materials, reflecting the experiences and traditions of past years during the holiday season.
“It was a very interesting participation. First of all, Christmas is already won here. They will never forget Christmas 2023, because this year there was a difference and a dynamism here in the village that made them leave the house, even despite the cold and rain. This week everyone worked with great enthusiasm to complete the Christmas village,” Sonia Martins told Lusa.
A technical officer from the municipality of Sant Bras de Alportel came up with the idea of making a “small difference” to a depopulated area that, a few decades ago, had a population of more than a hundred people, but today has been reduced to seven families. with a high average age, in addition to being damaged by a major fire in 2012.
“There are fewer residents in this area than we would like and we would really like to draw attention to the potential that this village has,” he said, hoping this isolated area of the Algarve mountains will gain more residents in the future.
In a makeshift workshop in a non-residential building, the work, which also involved family, friends and municipal employees, began about three weeks ago by collecting materials and ideas about how Christmas celebrations were done in other times.
“Nothing is purchased here. It’s all that nature provides. Nature has great potential,” Sonia Martins explained of the bark, pine trees, pine cones and leaves that were used in decorative decorations, as well as trees that were already in need of cutting down. now they are sculpted in the shape of animals, such as roosters, rabbits, pigs, owls or deer.
Other materials that would otherwise go to waste were also reused, as well as fabrics and clothing that people no longer wore, the only items that are “sustainably used to give more color” to the village, in addition to nature’s greenery , he described.
Throughout Paris there are messages and expressions typical of the mountains, and there is a “tree of stars” with the names of all its 21 inhabitants.
Another uninhabited house has a patio, symbolizing the “welcome” of the mountains, with a table set as the most important symbol, a “speaker” with jars of seeds and a “hazel” with necklaces of acorns, which in the past, at Christmas, they were placed on fireplace and served on Christmas Eve.
At the entrance to the village there is also a nativity scene made 15 years ago by the teacher and students of the then existing primary school, now converted into a community centre, another sign of the depopulation affecting this site deep in the village. Algarve.
“We are very happy about this. Because there were many people, now we are few,” said Maria do Rosario, 82, who has lived in the village for 63 years and is a representative of the residents, “very happy” with this Christmas. scene.
A program of events is planned from today through Sunday that includes a small market, several Christmas workshops and performances by Rancho Tipico Sambrasense and the San Bras de Alportel Children’s Choir, as well as a community dinner on Saturday with a traditional beans and cabbage recipe. , so-called “comfort” food.
The village will be decorated in the spirit of a green Christmas until January 6, 2024.