The Pauliteiros have been subject of reflection of historians and scholars for many years, yet the origin of this stick dance has not gathered consensus. Some speak of the Celtic, Greco-Roman and Medieval peoples having settled in the lands of Miranda (between the Douro and Sabor rivers) and preparing for combat with this type of dance, exchanging swords for sticks to avoid unnecessary risks. Solely composed of men, dressed in traditional costumes, this ritual dance remained in paganism until the 10th century, when the Catholic Church began to admire them in religious festivities. Nowadays, the Pauliteiros Mirandeses de Palaçoulo are a local symbol of culture and their work contributes to the dissemination of Mirandese folklore both in Portugal and abroad, reaching neighboring Spain, as well as France, Ireland, Belgium and Germany, among others.