Traditions & Festivals

Portuguese traditions give Portugal a unique quality. The modern world has not made the Portuguese like everyone else. The old ways of doing things are deeply rooted in the people. The farming calendar and the church festivals shape the Portuguese year. The agricultural towns celebrate their wonderful produce while the big cities celebrate their history and achievements.

Spring

Holy Week Festival

Farricocos in Eccce Homo Procession

Portuguese traditions in spring are about renewal - rebirth - flowers and food.Easter is of course the main spring festival and is the most important religious festival in Braga in the Minho region, with numerous processions throughout Holy Week. One week before Easter the town comes alive with festivals associated with Holy Week Celebrations, Semana Santa. The whole city is transformed being decorated and taken over by impressive processions such as the Penitence at the Cathedral. On Good Friday is the Ecce Homo Procession, which is led by the Farricocos (barefoot men in tunics with hoods), one of the most peculiar parts of the Portuguese religious tradition.

If you're in the Castelo de Vide region in the south, you'll experience a very different Easter celebration, one with Jewish origins. In the morning of Easter Eve, the region's shepherds invade the town centre to have their flocks of sheep blessed.

At night, during the Vigília Pascal (Paschal Vigil), people ask for forgiveness in secret, reminiscent of the Jewish Yom Kippur. At the end of the mass, all those present bring cowbells that ring the Cortejo da Aleluia (Procession of Alleluia) through the town.

Easter is the perfect time to try specialties of Portuguese cuisine. After the fasting of Lent, the best delicacies are eaten, such as roast kid, lamb stew, meatballs, buns, chocolate and almond eggs. Just a few of the delicious dishes you can try.

Summer

Festival of Saint Anthony

Festival of Saint Anthony

Summer is the period for celebration; music, dance, romance and homecoming. One of Portugal's most popular and lively festivals is the Festival of Saint Anthony. It is held from 14-29 June in Lisbon in honour of Portugal's secondary patron saint. Folkloric groups of different districts parade through the streets and accompanied by music.

As St Anthony is the matchmaker saint, it is still the tradition in Lisbon to celebrate multiple marriages (200 to 300) and still following the tradition, if you are attracted to someone, one can declare himself in the heat of the festivities by offering to the loved person a manjerico (a flower-pot with a sweet basil plant) and a love poem.

Festival of Saint John

The Festival of Saint John, also known as São João Festival, is the biggest festival on the Porto calender, and one of Europe's liveliest street. This festival is held on 23 and 24 June in honour of Saint John, the city's patron saint. The huge festival attracts enormous crowds every year, with music and dance all night long.

Furthermore, you will see images of people chasing each other with a toy hammer which is also wishing and blessing each other good luck.

Autumn

Our Lady of Fátima

Nossa Senhora de Fátima(Our Lady of Fátima) takes place from 12-13 October as shown in the previous entry post. Below is a YouTube video which shows more about the event:

All Saints' Day

All Saints' Day which is on 1st November, is a public holiday in Portugal. It is a celebration of all Christian saints, known and unknown, and especially for those saints who have no special feast days of their own. This is observed worldwide by Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Protestant churches. During this day, Portugal, churches ceremonies are held in memory of the patron’s saints of chapels, churches and parishes. Later on the day, people will bring flower arrangements to the graves of dead relatives and light candles as a symbol to enlighten their way into Heaven.

Saint Martin's Day

Roasted Chestnuts

Although not an official holiday, Saint Martin's Day is celebrated all over Portugal on 11 November. As the saying goes: 'No dia de São Martinho, vai na adega e prova o vinho' ('On Saint Martin's Day go to the wine cellar and try the wine'). This day is commonly associated with the celebration of the maturation of the year’s wine, being traditionally the first day when the new wine can be tasted. It is celebrated, traditionally around a bonfire, eating the magusto, chestnuts roasted under the embers of the bonfire (sometimes dry figs and walnuts), and drinking a local light alcoholic beverage called água-pé (literally “foot water”), made by adding water to the pomace left after the juice is pressed out of the grapes for wine.
For more information of this festival click here: http://www.algarvebuzz.com/sao-martinho-saint-martins-day-chestnut-festival-in-portugal/

Restoration of Independence Day

1st December marks the restoration of Portugal's independence from Spain in 1640, whereby the majority of Portuguese remember on this day honor their historical heritage from monarchic times when Portugal used to be one of the most important countries in the world. It is also a day used by monarchic sectors in Portugal to remember the monarchic history of the country and the importance that they had in the building of the Portuguese nation.
Immaculate Conception Day

The Immaculate Conception Day celebrates the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. It is celebrated on December 8, after the Nativity of Mary, which is celebrated on September 8. Daily Catholic masses are held on this day as a celebration of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, and she is remembered by most Portuguese as Our Patron Saint. For more information, click here: http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/immaculate-conception-day-portugal/

Winter

Christmas

In Portugal, the tradition of giving gifts is a big part of the most Christmas celebrations. On Christmas Day, the feast is known as 'Consoda', where extra places are set at the table for the souls of the dead. It is believed that gifting food to ancestor's souls will make them bless the household with good fortune for the coming year.

Portuguese burn Cepo de Natal or the Christmas log, which is a piece of oak that burns on the hearth all through the day on Christmas. On 5th of January or Epiphany Eve, children keep their shoes along windowsills and doorways and fill them with carrots and straw to lure the horses of the Three Wise Men to their household during the night. The Three Kings (not the Santa) then leave gifts and treats for the children in their shoes, which they usually find in the morning and consist of candied fruits and sweet breads.

Culture of Portugal

Here is a video to give you an overview of Portugal:

The video above shows the lifestyle of the Portuguese, as well as the pride the Portuguese have for their country. From the video, you can see the culture of the Portuguese as well, such as sports, religion, music, arts and literature.

Population

Portugal has around 10.7 million inhabitants. Its growth rate is rather small with an estimated 0.27% in 2009. The Portuguese population has its origin in several different peoples that settled in Portugal in historic times, such as the Celts and Germanic tribes. However, these ethnic groups have blended over the centuries and the Portuguese are today fairly homogeneous.

Sports

Football (Soccer) is not a game in Portugal; it is a national obsession. Although mostly a spectator sport, football is also regularly played by many Portuguese at weekends. No matter where you are in Portugal, people gather for informal matches on Sunday afternoons at sport complexes or grassy fields on the outskirts of town.

Life and often the national economy come to a near standstill during any big match, with bar and restaurant TVs showing nothing else. Post-match celebrations has become a tradition, with fans taking to the streets, honking, setting off fireworks and gridlocking entire town centres until the wee hours.

The country was consumed with football hysteria in 2004 when it hosted the UEFA European Football Championships, the biggest sports event ever staged in Portugal. For more on UEFA European Football Championships 2004, click here: http://euro2008.football-shirts.co.uk/euro2004.html

Bullfighting

Bullfighting is a traditional spectacle of Portugal. It was first recorded in Portugal a staggering 2000 years ago by a Roman historian. The sport was then honed in the 12th century, when the tourada became a way to maintain military fitness and prepare nobles for horseback battle.

A typical tourada (refer to picture above) starts with an enraged bull charging into the ring towards a cavaleiro, a dashing horsemen dressed in the 18th-century finery and plumed tricon hat. The cavaleiro seizes the animal up as his team of peões de brega (footmen) distract and provoke the bull with capes. Then with superb horsemanship, he gallops within inches of the bull's horns and plants several barbed bandarilha (spears) in the angry creature's neck.

At the second stage, eight brave young forcados challenge the bull directly without any protection or weapon of defense. The front man provokes the bull into a charge to perform a pega de cara or pega de caras (face catch). The front man secures the animal's head and is quickly aided by his fellows who surround and secure the animal until he is subdued.

Bullfighting remains popular here despite opposition from international animal-welfare organisations as Portugal's own anti-bullfighting lobby is vocal but small.

The season runs from late April or March to October. The most traditional contests take place in bull-breeding Ribatejo province, especially in Santarém during the June fair.


Religion

Portugal was profoundly Roman Catholic. According to common saying, "to be Portuguese is to be Catholic," and approximately 97 percent of the population considered itself Roman Catholic--the highest percentage in Western Europe.

The country is famous for its impressive pilgrimages and romarias (religious festivals in honour of a plethora of parton saints), which continue unabated and are celebrated with a special fervour in the north.

The picture above shows one of Europe's most important centres of pilgrimage in Portugal at Fátima, where up to 300,000 pilgrims congregate every May and October. Days before the popular pilgrimages on the 13th of each month from May to October, the roads to Fátima will be crowded with thousands of pilgrims who walk to the sanctuary from all over Portugal. These people come to pay vows, pray or ask the Virgin for help.

During the last night of every pilgrimage cycle, the large square in front of the basilica turns into a sea of light, as tens of thousands of pilgrims hold up candles while attending outdoor mass. For more information on Fátima, click here: http://www.sacredsites.com/europe/portugal/fatima.htm

Arts & Literature

Portuguese literature has long been moulded by foreign influences but has retained its individuality throughout. Two major styles dominate: lyric poetry and realistic fiction.

Monument of Luís Vaz de Camões, Lisbon

The country's most outstanding literary figure is Luís Vaz de Camões (1524-80), a poet who enjoyed little fame or fortune in his lifetime. Only after his death was his genius recognised, thanks largely to a poem, Os Lusiadas (The Lusiads; 1572)

It tells of Vasco da Gama's 1497 sea voyage to India, but it is also a superbly lyrical paean to the Portuguese spirit, written when Portugal was still one of the most powerful countries in the Western world. Four centuries after its humble publication, it is considered the national epic, its poet a national hero.

Other famous poets includes Almeida Garrett (1799-1854), José Maria de Eça de Queirós, Fernanda Pessoa (1888-1935) and José Cardoso Pires(1925-98).

Today, Portugal's literary scene is largely dominated by two people: José Saramago and António Lobo Antunes.

Music

Fundamental to Portugal's history of musical expression is its foot-tapping folk music, which you can almost hear at every festival. It traces its roots to the medieval troubadour and is traditionally accompanied by a band of guitars, violins, clarinets, harmonicas and various wooden percussion instruments.

Of all the folkloric music traditions, fado is the music that best expresses the Portuguese sentiments of nostalgia and saudade. The fado, which means 'fate' in Portuguese, is a ballad about the tribulations of life, lost love, about saudades and aspects of Lisbon's low life of old.

The video below is fado music by Amalia Rodrigues, who brought fado international recognition. Enjoy!

Food

Although Portugal is a small country, it has a richly varied cuisine. Every religion, and sometimes every town, has meat dishes, stews, soups, desserts and pastries is truly astounding. Portugal's characteristic dishes are hearty and reveal a traditional skill of creating satisfying and tasty meals with simple ingredients.

Bacalhau

Bacalhau (dried, salted cod) is the food item most associated with Portuguese cuisine. It is prepared in every possible and imaginable way, from simply grilled to steamed, cooked in milk and made into fried patties.

Arroz de marisco

Portugal also has an amazing variety of seafood dishes, such as the Arroz de marisco (seafood rice)[picture above] which is a seasoned stew made with several types of seafood and cooked together with rice, and the cataplana (refer to picture below), a traditional dish of steamed seafood from the Algarve.

Cataplana

In addition to the great variety of seafood dishes, Portugal also has a rich selection of meat dishes with great regional variations. One of the most popular Portuguese beef dishes is Bife à portuguesa (grilled beef steak topped with a fried egg) and Cozido à portuguesa (a stew made with cabbage and meats such as pork, chicken and smoked sausage) is considered be some to be Portugal's national dish.

A number of sweet dishes are prepared seasonally for special occasions. Among them are rabanadas (made from white bread soaked in sugar syrup, then dipped in beaten eggs and fried which is popular in the Minho region at Christmas), filhos (a type of fritters which is also popular during Christmas), and the Folar de Páscoa (a sweet bread baked with whole eggs inside which is popular at Easter)

Rabanadas Filhos

Folar de Pascoa

Introduction

Map of Portugal

Where is Portugal?

Portugal is located on the Iberian Peninsula on the south-western edge of continental Europe. It is one of Europe's smaller nations with a total land area of 91,951 sq km, which includes the Azores and Madeira islands.

Northern Portugal is characterised by high plateaus and mountains while the central region between the Duoro and the Tagus rivers is mostly hilly with scattered mountains, wide valleys and the coastal plain.

Portugal's Regions

Portugal is divided into several different regions, which are primarily areas of geographic, historic and cultural unity. The influence of the natural environment on regional culture is noticeable everywhere everywhere, from the granite granaries in the Minho to the schist farm houses in the Beira Alta and adobe cottages still found in the Algarve.

The Azores

Angra do Heroismo

The Azores archipelago with its nine islands extends 1,600 km from Portugal. The Azores were discovered in 1427 at the beginning of the Portuguese maritime explorations and became an important stopover point during seafaring expeditions.

The picture shown above is Angra do Heroismo on Ilha Terceira, one of the oldest settlement in the Azores, has been declared a World Heritage Site.

The Madeira Islands

The Madeira archipelago is located about 1000km south-west of Lisbon, the capital and largest city of Portugal. It consists of two inhabited islands - Madeira and Port Santo - and small uninhabited islands of volcanic origin.

Madeira wine

Madeira is best known abroad for its fortified sweet Madeira wine, which is similar to port wine.

A little history of Portugal...

From the video, the picture showing the first king of Portugal was Afonso Henriques (reigned 1139-1185). He was the one who achieved Portugal's independence. The following picture shows the timeline of the history of Portugal (Click to enlarge).

What all of Portugal's regions have in common are the deep historical roots from millennials of human settlement. All across the Portuguese landscape there are many architectures such as the stalwart castles, lofty cathedrals , and elegant manor horses which were once home to the rural nobility. The Portuguese take pride in the unique characteristics of their home region, which are expressed in the livelihoods, crafts, costumes, dances, music, folkloric traditions, dialects and regional wines, which will be discussed in the next entry.

Portugal

What comes to your mind first when you think of Portugal?




Is it Cristiano Ronaldo?

Is it bullfighting?

Or is it the famous Belém Tower?

Stunning, beautiful and sunny, Portugal is one of Europe's most fascinating nations with amazing beaches, glorious architecture, vast landscapes, rural hideaways, convents and monasteries.

In the following entries, I will be elaborating more on the cultures and traditions of the Portugese, their languages and their way of life, their mode of education, their indigenious groups as well the popular attractions and activities Portugal is being known for.