Fernando, 6-years-old, smokes a cigarette in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, during the local Kings' Feast Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. The village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast, feature a tradition that each year causes an outcry among outsiders: parents encourage their children, some as young as 5, to smoke cigarettes. Parents buy the packs of cigarettes for their children. Locals say the practice is centuries-old, but nobody is sure what it symbolizes nor why the children are incited to smoke. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
The Associated Press
VALE DE SALGUEIRO, Portugal (AP) - The Epiphany celebrations in the Portuguese village of Vale de Salgueiro feature a tradition that each year causes an outcry among outsiders: Parents encouraging their children, some as young as 5, to smoke cigarettes.
Locals say the practice has been passed down for centuries as part of a celebration of life tied to the Christian Epiphany and the winter solstice - but nobody is sure what it symbolizes or exactly why parents buy the packs of cigarettes for their children and encourage them to take part.
The two-day celebrations, which start Friday and end Saturday with a Mass, include dancing around bonfires, a piper playing music and an elected "king" who distributes plentiful wine and snacks.
The legal age to purchase tobacco in Portugal is 18, but nothing prohibits parents from giving kids cigarettes and Portuguese authorities don't intervene to stop the practice.
Guilhermina Mateus, a 35-year-old coffee shop owner, cites custom as the reason why she gives her daughter cigarettes.
"I can't explain why. I don't see any harm in that because they don't really smoke, they inhale and immediately exhale, of course," Mateus said Saturday. "And it's only on these days, today and tomorrow. They never ask for cigarettes again."
Jose Ribeirinha, a writer who has published a book on the Vale do Salgueiro festivities, said the roots of the tradition are unknown, but may have to do with celebrating the rebirth of nature and human life. He said the village is in a region that adheres to many traditions dating back to pagan times, and that since Roman times, during the winter solstice period villagers here have taken the liberty to do things that would be out of the norm in the rest of the year.
Ribeirinha also believes the relative seclusion of the remote village - 450 kilometers (280 miles) northeast of the capital Lisbon - has helped keep the tradition alive. He said that the surrounding Tras os Montes region "has always been the furthest from Lisbon, the most 'forgotten one.'"
Portugal, like many other European countries, has taken steps to reduce smoking, including a partial ban on smoking indoors.
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Barry Hatton contributed from Lisbon.
An adult helps a young girl light a cigarette as a band plays in the background in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, during the local Kings' Feast Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. The village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast, feature a tradition that each year causes an outcry among outsiders: parents encourage their children, some as young as 5, to smoke cigarettes. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
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A young boy smokes in the street in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, during the local Kings' Feast Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. The village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast, feature a tradition that each year causes an outcry among outsiders: parents encourage their children, some as young as 5, to smoke cigarettes. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
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Ines, 8 years old, reacts as her father Frederico hands her her first cigarette, in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, during the local Kings' Feast Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. The village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast, feature a tradition that each year causes an outcry among outsiders: parents encourage their children, some as young as 5, to smoke cigarettes. Parents buy the packs of cigarettes for their children. Locals say the practice is centuries-old, but nobody is sure what it symbolizes nor why the children are incited to smoke. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
The Associated Press
Luisa Ines, 10-years-old, gets her father Carlos Cadavez, a non-smoker, to help her light a cigarette in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, during the local Kings' Feast Friday night, Jan. 5, 2018. The village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast, feature a tradition that each year causes an outcry among outsiders: parents encourage their children, some as young as 5, to smoke cigarettes. Parents buy the packs of cigarettes for their children. Locals say the practice is centuries-old, but nobody is sure what it symbolizes nor why the children are incited to smoke. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
The Associated Press
Young boys light cigarettes in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, during the local Kings' Feast Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. The village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast, feature a tradition that each year causes an outcry among outsiders: parents encourage their children, some as young as 5, to smoke cigarettes. Parents buy the packs of cigarettes for their children. Locals say the practice is centuries-old, but nobody is sure what it symbolizes nor why the children are incited to smoke. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
The Associated Press
Children smoke while walking with a music band in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, during the local Kings' Feast Friday night, Jan. 5, 2018. The village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast, feature a tradition that each year causes an outcry among outsiders: parents encourage their children, some as young as 5, to smoke cigarettes. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
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Jose David Mateus, 100-years-old, and his wife Adilia, 86, hand their contribution to this year's "king", Alexandre Taveira, left, for the local Kings' Feast in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. The annual "king" is responsible for organizing the village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
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Alexandre Taveira, gets help putting on his "king" crown before starting going house to house to collect contributions for the organization of the local Kings' Feast in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. The annual "king" is responsible for organizing the village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
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Natasha, 8 years old, holds a packet of cigarettes in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, during the local Kings' Feast Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. The village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast, feature a tradition that each year causes an outcry among outsiders: parents encourage their children, some as young as 5, to smoke cigarettes. Parents buy the packs of cigarettes for their children. Locals say the practice is centuries-old, but nobody is sure what it symbolizes nor why the children are incited to smoke. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
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Alexandre Taveira, wearing his "king" crown, walks around the church during mass looking for a successor during the local Kings' Feast in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. Each year a "king" is chosen to be responsible for organizing the village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
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In this picture shot through a glass window, Gabriel Setas, wearing his crown, joins villagers for a drink after being chosen as the new "king" during the local Kings' Feast in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. Each year a "king" is appointed to be responsible for organizing the village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
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Gabriel Setas, center, wearing his crown, takes part in a procession after being chosen as the new "king" during the local Kings' Feast in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. At right, the replaced "king" Alexandre Taveira carries a statue of Saint Stephen. Each year a "king" is appointed to be responsible for organizing the village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
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Gabriel Setas greets villagers after being chosen as the new "king" during the local Kings' Feast in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. Each year a "king" is appointed to be responsible for organizing the village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
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A villager invites this year's "king", Alexandre Taveira, left, to his house to give a contribution for the organization of the local Kings' Feast in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. The annual "king" is responsible for organizing the village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
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Alexandre Taveira, wearing his "king" crown, leaves a house after collecting a contribution for the organization of the local Kings' Feast in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. The annual "king" is responsible for organizing the village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
The Associated Press
A young boy blows cigarette smoke on his friend's face in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, during the local Kings' Feast Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. The village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast, feature a tradition that each year causes an outcry among outsiders: parents encourage their children, some as young as 5, to smoke cigarettes. Parents buy the packs of cigarettes for their children. Locals say the practice is centuries-old, but nobody is sure what it symbolizes nor why the children are incited to smoke. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
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Children and adults dance the Murinheira, a traditional dance of Celtic origin, in the village of Vale de Salgueiro, northern Portugal, during the local Kings' Feast Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. The village's Epiphany celebrations, called Kings' Feast, feature a tradition that each year causes an outcry among outsiders: parents encourage their children, some as young as 5, to smoke cigarettes. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
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