Understanding the Culture and Traditions of Portugal
By: Vanessa Anderson Posted on Fri, 10-04-2020
Portugal is among the oldest European countries. Its rich culture is shaped by the influence of Moorish, Visigoth, Viking, Celtic, Lusitanian, Phoenician and Sephardic Jewish. Portugal is called Land of monuments. From cuisine to wine, art to music, festivals to pilgrimages, there are many interesting things to know about its rich culture and traditions.
In recent years the culture and traditions have gone through a revival in the arts and the cities of Guimarães, Lisbon, and Porto are considered as a hub of culture.
Take a quick look down below and learn more about the traditions of Portugal.
Gastronomy
Portugal is famous for its wide culinary traditions. The important food in Portugal gastronomy is Cod. Codfish can be preserved for a longer period when marinated in salt and Portuguese people don’t have much money to buy fresh fish so Code fish has solved their problem. In Portuguese, codfish is cooked in several ways like codfish with cream roast and boiled code. Besides Cod, there are also some amazing foods in Portugal cuisine which attracts the attention of millions of tourists from around the world.
Sardines, the Francesinha is the popular sandwich in the world and Pastel De Nata is the famous Portuguese pastry in desserts. Pastel De Nata is a delicious dessert for Tourists. There is a ritual in Portugal tradition that there is always a bowl of olives present on their table as a starter.
Art
The Portuguese have a great love for the arts. There are many museums in the city of Lisbon, the university town of Coimbra and Braga Guimaraes. Small towns have their collection of arts. Even in the smallest village of Portugal, there is a special place assigned for local art exhibitions.
These places are closed to Camera Municipal City Hall. If you love visiting Art Galleries then you can visit Arte AFK which is located in the north of Lisbon city center. This art gallery has a collection of the finest painting and photography that depicts the skills of known and emerging national and international artists.
Music
Music is an important part of Portugal's culture. The most important music genre in Portugal is Fado. The music genre evolved in the mid-nineteen century. The specialty of Fado singing is a translation of fate and destiny and the melancholy of a world related to nostalgia, longing, and homesickness while you are in the sea.
The expression of music of Fado is very unique and it is included in UNESCO as immaterial heritage. The importance of Fado can be well depicted by the fact that when Amalia Rodrigues, the queen of Fadohe died in 1999, national mourning was declared for three days.
Some other renowned singers in Portugal are Carlos do Carmo, Mariza, and Ana Moura. Folk music and dancing also hold an important part in Portugal's tradition and culture. The Square of small towns of Portugal by the church is designated for regional Folklorico. The people who participate in this Folklorica wear colorful dresses and sing cultural songs while dancing on musical instruments like guitar, drums, and violin.
Sports
People in Portugal love playing soccer and it’s among the most popular sports there. The oldest club of soccer in Portugal is Boavista that was established in 1903. There are many other clubs as well.
The known ones include Sporting and Benfica. The national team of Portugal is ranked third among 206 countries by FIFA. The legendary Eusebio depicts Portuguese Football but at present Cristiano Ronald is in public eyes. Portugal is also famous for Bullrings.
Café Culture
Portuguese people are very fond of coffee and they enjoy drinking coffee at their local cafes. In this way, they get a chance to socialize with each other. They read newspapers, chit chat and watch sports on televisions in their favorite cafes.
You can also enjoy your favorite pastry Pastel De Nata and delicious sandwich Sardines, the Francesinha in the cozy ambiance of cafés.
Festivals and Holidays
Cultural festivals are often held during the year. All festivals revolve around delicious foods like bread, olive oil, garlic, cheese and wine. Moreover, traditional and cultural songs and dances are also a part of their festivals. Some holidays are given due to political events and some holidays are given in the prospect of religion.
Carnival is widely celebrated and people love taking part in the celebrations. For Carnaval, shopkeepers dress in beautiful costumes just like Halloween partygoers. Parades take place in streets with songs and dances. Festivals held in June are Saints Anthony (12th-13th), John (23rd-24th), and Peter (28th-29th).
Beautiful fireworks are done during weddings and plastic hammers are used to inculcate good fortune to others. Another important celebration is held on 11th November. It is the three-day festival to celebrate the beautiful summer season.
Literature
Portuguese literature evolved in the 12th century. Poet King written by Dom Denis and sung by Troubadours is a marvelous piece of literature. The greatest Portugal poet is Luís Vaz de Camões, a 16th-century poet.
His excellent work in literature can be compared to Shakespeare, Virgil, and Homer. Another important literary figure of the 20th century is Fernando Pessoa. In 1998 Joe Saramago was given the Nobel prize of literature.
Wrapping Up
To have a clear know-how of tradition and culture of any country, understanding the country's language is very important. In case you need any help, Mars Translation is there to provide fast and reliable Portuguese translation services. We offer translation, transcription, subtitling and a lot more to and from the Portuguese language.
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