Rancho Folclórico As Tricanas — Tradition and Family
In this episode of the LusoCanada Podcast, we speak with Cristiano Matos, president of Rancho Folclórico As Tricanas, a Portuguese folklore group founded in Toronto in 1980 and now based in Hamilton. The conversation explores the group’s origins in the Bairrada region, its connection to Rancho Folclórico da Nazaré, its renewal after the pandemic, and its new chapter representing the Beira Litoral, including Aveiro, Coimbra, and northern Leiria. Cristiano reflects on his family’s deep roots in folklore, the meaning of costumes such as the tricana, salineira, and marnoto, the importance of teaching young people about Portuguese identity, and the group’s current effort to attract more dancers, singers, and musicians to help keep Portuguese traditions alive in Canada.