“People have to value this item of clothing and take it out of their closets. If they are very worn, they must be preserved to be inventoried, because many honour capes are very old and have great historical and cultural value”, says the mayor, cited by the Lusa agency.

For around two years, the municipality has been carrying out an inventory of the number of Capes of Honour in the municipality, to understand the different ways of making the garment.

“It is very difficult to come up with an exact number, but it is estimated that there are around a thousand capes of honours in Terra de Miranda and the country”, added Helena Barril.

The appeal precedes a ceremony to exalt the Mirandesa Cape of Honour, which takes place on 24 March, and which will bring together a few dozen of these examples of typical Portuguese costume.

Helena Barril also appealed to cape owners to make them known through the parade that will run through the streets of the city of Miranda do Douro, on 24 March.

The mayor also mentioned that “there are still many Capes of Honour in people's possession, mainly in the villages, and that through day-to-day conversations this reality becomes clear”.

Registrations for the “Angradecimiento de la Capa d’Honras Mirandesa” ceremonies must be submitted by 21 March at the Balcão Único in the municipality of Miranda do Douro.

As part of the safeguard measures, each registration will have to complete an inventory and cataloging form, relating to the capes.

Given the cultural value of this piece of clothing, the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage (DGPC) inscribed, in November 2022, the Mirandesa Cape of Honour in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage (INPCI), culminating “a long journey in safeguarding this piece of Trás-os-Montes costume”.

From a coat worn by cattle herders to a piece of clothing that is "in fashion", the traditional Capas de Honra Mirandesa is gaining ground in the panorama of traditional Portuguese clothing, where hats, capes, wallets and other garments are made that are used all over the country and Europe, both by men and women.

In February 2019, Pope Francis wore a Cape of Honour offered by the municipality of Miranda do Douro.

Currently, it is only used in protocol ceremonies or acts of relevant importance. However, it is customary to offer a cape of honour to distinguished people who visit the municipality of Miranda do Douro.