The Portuguese are known to celebrate with joy all kinds of holidays and festivals. The reasons for celebrations could range from pilgrimages, honoring the memory of numerous saints, as well as fair events. Inhabitants of the northern regions of the country celebrate local holidays by indulging in dances, various musical events, as well as traditional amusements and shows with fireworks. An indispensable attribute of the festivities is the spectacle of the bullfight with the prohibition of killing an animal.
Portugal is clearly divided into the northern wooded and southern plains parts. The south of the country is characterized in its appearance by the …
Read further
The main holidays of the year are Christmas and Easter which are traditionally celebrated with family, relatives and closest friends. The Portuguese certainly participate in divine service, and then lovingly decorate the table with an abundance of local dishes and alcoholic beverages. On the night before Christmas, the Portuguese participate in religious worship. This is accompanied by a well prepared meal laid in the temple. In all houses, traditional fish dishes, as well as dishes from turkey are eaten for dinner. Celebrations are never complete without all sorts of baked desserts and sweet rolls. There is also the compulsory visitation of relatives which is accompanied by exchanges of gifts.
In the former capital of the country, a reverence of St. John is organized on the street of Praca da Liberdade on the evening of June 24. The end of the month is marked by the celebration of Sao Joao. Most of the locals join in the celebration. The city of Óbidos pleases residents with the sounds of traditional music during the month of October. In Coimbra, festivals are organized for young people who have recently been enrolled into higher educational institutions. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
The Mediterranean climate is dominant in Portugal. The ocean has a huge influence on its formation. Air masses coming from the ocean make the …
Read further
Every year in May, a flower festival is organized on Madeira Island with an abundance of fun and national festivities. This event is dedicated to the winegrowers to mark the harvesting season. The winter period is marked by carnival processions, the celebration of the rural workers, as well as an abundance of colorful fair festivals. After Easter the “Procession of our Lord of the sick” traditionally takes place along the road which is covered with petals of flowers. In Ponta Delgada, celebrations are held on the occasion of Easter with noisy and merry mass festivities. In the final period of the summer season, the authorities of Lajes do Pico celebrate the achievements of the maritime industry workers including whalers.
![Madeira Funchal]( "Madeira Funchal")
With the onset of August, the festival days of music of Mare de Agosto begin in Santa Maria. In Piku, the Holy Spirit is celebrated at the conclusion of the Whit Monday. Maslenitsa is traditionally considered a time of repentance from sins before the beginning of Lent. Different regions celebrate the holiday in different ways: There is the noisy Brazilian version which is conducted in the streets. It is filled with musical extravaganzas and competitions by samba dancers. On the other hand, there is also a more somber, subtle and conservative kind of celebration.
The transport infrastructure of Portugal is at a decent level. Most of the transport companies in the country are private owned. Due to constant …
Read further
Residents of the cities of Torres Vedras or Ovars engage in mass festivities in a rather comical and care free manner by poking at giant humorous figures of politicians which they themselves have constructed. In a way, they are in the process, exercising their rights to freedom of expression. Usually, the eve of Maslenitsa is a period of spending time with family, going out to publicly held celebrations and wearing traditional Portuguese costumes. For locals, this is an opportunity to have a good time since it includes also a long-awaited reunion with friends and loved ones.
![]()
The main entrances and streets of cities are decorated with colorful lightings, as well as garlands in honor of the arrival of newborns. The Portuguese decorate the Christmas trees and nativity scenes with the figures of the Holy Family, as well as animals. Santa Claus is also honored by locals. These figures are also used in decorating private homes, storefronts as well as other commercial premises. Like most southern nations, the Portuguese honor the centuries-old tradition of celebrating religious holidays with their families and closest friends.
The Portuguese are known to celebrate with joy all kinds of holidays and festivals. The reasons for celebrations could range from pilgrimages, honoring the memory of numerous saints, as well as fair events. Inhabitants of the northern regions of the country celebrate local holidays by indulging in dances, various musical events, as well as traditional amusements and shows with fireworks. An indispensable attribute of the festivities is the spectacle of the bullfight with the prohibition of killing an animal.
With the onset of August, the festival days of music of Mare de Agosto begin in Santa Maria. In Piku, the Holy Spirit is celebrated at the conclusion of the Whit Monday. Maslenitsa is traditionally considered a time of repentance from sins before the beginning of Lent. Different regions celebrate the holiday in different ways: There is the noisy Brazilian version which is conducted in the streets. It is filled with musical extravaganzas and competitions by samba dancers. On the other hand, there is also a more somber, subtle and conservative kind of celebration.
The main entrances and streets of cities are decorated with colorful lightings, as well as garlands in honor of the arrival of newborns. The Portuguese decorate the Christmas trees and nativity scenes with the figures of the Holy Family, as well as animals. Santa Claus is also honored by locals. These figures are also used in decorating private homes, storefronts as well as other commercial premises. Like most southern nations, the Portuguese honor the centuries-old tradition of celebrating religious holidays with their families and closest friends. 
