Portugal may seem very small for a country, but with over a thousand years of history, it has many interesting places to visit and discover the past or just enjoy the landscape. All of its major cities are quite different from each other because of the geography, climate and cultural influences in them. The southern […]
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Most Portuguese first names are very simple and come from characters in the Bible, like Maria (Mary) or João (John). Some sounds found in names will be very different from English, like the tilde in Sebastião (Sebastian) while others will be almost the same as in English, such as David, which only changes a bit
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Portugal celebrates a lot of holidays throughout the year, and most of them have roots in Christian celebrations, while others are all about the seasons and some historical events. The traditions people follow are different from those in the United States, but most fall on the same days, like Christmas and Easter. Christmas time in
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The country of Portugal is very old and has many exciting episodes in its history. It all started in 1143 when D. Afonso Henriques inherited the kingdom of Portugal from his parents, but wanted to keep it independent while his mother wanted to join Portugal with her kingdom of León. D. Afonso managed to claim
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Traditional Portuguese games are a great way to have fun with very little supplies! Grandparents have been passing on awesome activities to their grandchildren for generations. The best thing about them, and why they stayed so popular, is that they need very little, if anything at all, to be played. When toys weren’t available to
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Traditional fashion in Portugal is still worn on special occasions, like holidays and culture shows. Portugal doesn’t have one national outfit, but many outfits according to the profession or occasion the person is dressed for. They’re usually very simple, but lovely and vary according to the region people are from. Most clothes are in basic,
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Portuguese polite habits aren’t very different from American customs, but there are some small things that help making new friends easier. People are very warm and relaxed, so any mistakes are never a big deal, as long as you remember your “please, and thank you” (Por favor, e obrigado!). You’ll see many people greeting with
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Traditional dishes in Portugal are varied because people there like to take advantage of the best things each region has to offer. There’s a lot of fish by the coast and in the interior, pastures to raise cattle and cultivate great grains and fruit. Maybe you’ve heard of the Mediterranean diet before: it has a
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Portugal is a small country in the Iberian Peninsula, an almost perfect rectangle facing the Atlantic Ocean and bordering Spain. The population is only a little over 10 million people, but the culture is very rich, with a long history and traditions for all sorts of aspects in their day to day life, like holidays,
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Children’s Games from Portugal 1) The Boatman: the objective is to obtain the longest number of elements to win the race. Two children hold hands and pick a name: an animal, fruit, countries, anything without anyone hearing. All other kids form a line and sing “oh Lord Boatman let me pass, I have little kids,
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Dressing in Portugal Appearance in Portugal is extremely important, while most Portuguese are fashion savvy and are considered to be of certain ranking by the way an individual dresses. Best standard textures and fabrics are preferred. Urban Portuguese dress Western, and modernized. In the rural areas, the dressing is much more traditional. Men: stocking caps,
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Custom and Culture 1) Appearance is extremely important. Everyone is fashion conscious, and clothes indicate social standing. 2) Portugal represents and respects hierarchy. The society is highly stratified and rank is essential. 3) If you’re invited to a home, bring flowers, good candy or chocolate. Do not bring wine, lilies or chrysanthemums. A handshake is
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Sounds of Portugal The traditional Portugal music is called fado. Known for its melancholy lyrics and sounds, fado is Portuguese for ‘fate’ but the music is very spirited and passionate. It is a musical diamond for Portugal. Folk music and dancing is also Portugal’s tradition. Portuguese music is typically about love, and extremely personal. There
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Fun Facts 1) Since the eighteenth century it has been illegal for the bull to be killed in Portuguese bull fighting. 2) The official flower of Portugal is the lavender. 3) Portugal is home to the first wave farm, which creates electricity. 4) Portugal is home to the longest bridge in Europe, which is 10
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Children’s Day of Portugal In Portugal along with its other former colonies like Cape Verde and Angola, Children’s Day is celebrated annually on June 1st. This day is to celebrate children and their innocence, and how much they mean to their elders. There are parades, festivals, and small family gatherings.
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Portuguese Food – Portuguese Cuisine Cinnamon and curry powder is a Portuguese legacy, and so are onions, garlic, cloves, olives, and grapes. Fresh fish, shellfish, pork and other meat will be found on any plate in Portugal. The following dishes are the most common of Portuguese cuisines: 1) Cozido a Portuguesa: stewed vegetables with different
Children’s Games of Portugal 1) The Boatman: the objective is to obtain the longest number of elements to win the race. Two children hold hands and pick a name: an animal, fruit, countries, anything without anyone hearing. All other kids form a line and sing “oh Lord Boatman let me pass, I have little kids,
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Portuguese is the most widely spoken language in South America. Portuguese is the 6th most common language in the world and the third fastest growing European language. Some of the English words of Portuguese origin are caramel, cashew, flamingo, mosquito, potato and zebra. Many people in Angola, Mozambique and Macaque can speak Portuguese.
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