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The masked figures are fundamental elements in the popular festivities of the Trás-os-Montes region. They are not exclusively linked to one event, but they appear throughout the year, in such important popular celebrations as Christmas or Carnival.

At these times, the young men disguise themselves as mascarados or caretos and the young ladies as a filandorra, or as madamas or mandogueiras. They dress in old clothes or brightly-coloured blankets, cover their faces with a mask made of wood, cork or cardboard, tie bells around their waists and on their feet and, now unrecognisable, run through the villages jumping and shouting and generally making their presence felt at local events.

These are cultural manifestations that go beyond the rules of what is normally permitted by the authorities, who only allow themselves to be criticised and made fun of on these occasions. They embody the devil and perversity and appear from all over the place, denouncing sins and ill-will, except in the case of churches, which are considered to be protected and quintessentially sacred spaces. In this way, the exuberance shown by these grotesque figures contrasts with the moderation exhibited by the mordomos, who are the ones that are truly responsible for ensuring that the traditions are continued and that order is maintained.