<p>This article analyses the festivals known as cavalhadas in the city of Pirenópolis in the state of Goiás. To this end, a theoretical proposal based on decolonial theory in conjunction with neomedievalism theory is presented. This proposal is based on the fact that in cases where the Middle Ages have been mobilised, as in this case, such a connection allows for a new approach to understanding Brazilian cultural specificities. Moreover, any approach that establishes a direct and uncritical link to the supposed mediaeval heritage in Brazil should be refuted. Roughly speaking, the article has two main lines of argument, which are presented in the text under four subheadings. First, a decolonial proposal linked to neomedievalism is presented as a theoretical attempt to analyse the Pirenópolis Cavalhada. This is followed by a brief description of the festival of the Divino Espírito Santo in Pirenópolis, in which the battle between Christians and Moors, the so-called Cavalhada, is depicted. This section emphasises the role of the masked men and their burlesque action, which is intended to form the antithesis of the “mediaeval” knights.</p>