Resumen de Questioning the cultural identity at the folkloric group “os pastores de São Romão”
Raúl Ramos, Cátia Pereira, Elsa Ramos
It was in 1978 that the Rancho Folclórico "Os Pastores de São Romão" began its activity, being an institution to collect, preserve and disseminate the material and immaterial heritage of the western slope of Serra da Estrela. It is not only a folk group, but an institution strongly linked to the local population, supporting cultural activities such as music, dance, and studies about the past of the region and its inhabitants, having, inclusively, the Ethnographic Museum situated in São Romão. This article intends to analyse, understand and characterise notions of tradition through the customs and various characteristic aspects of this folkloric group, such as the costumes, instruments, songs, and the performance itself. Through interviews and analysis of the cultural identity transmitted by the group, we have as objectives to question and identify the veracity of this set of customs, values, and practices, assessing the authenticity of the traditions.
