Terra de Miranda

Terra de Miranda ("Tierra de Miranda" in Mirandese) the historical name of a 500 km² mesa in northeastern Portugal, lying on the border of Spain. It used to be an administrative division, and although it does not correspond to a modern day region's borders, there are some cultural characteristics particular to Terra de Miranda that keep the name in use to the present day.

It has been a border region between different administrative areas of the Roman Empire, the kingdoms of the Visigoths and the Suevi, the Arabs and the Christians. Although the etymology of the word "Miranda" is still debated, it is believed to mean "border".

Among the best known cultural features particular to this area there is the Mirandese language, the Pauliteiros, the pagan rituals practiced from Christmas to Easter, namely the farandulo, and the bagpipe music.

ee also

* Miranda do Douro

External links

* [http://mirandes.no.sapo.pt/mapaI.html Map of the Terra de Miranda]
* [http://www.mirandes.net/ Mirandes na net. Lhengua i Cultura Mirandesa]
* [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=mwl Ethnologue report for Miranda do Douro (Mirandese)]