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Important Portuguese Customs and Traditions
Almost three-quarters of a million Britons now live in Portugal, according to the Mediterranean country’s Foreigners and Borders Service – and the figure has been rising for the past six years. Many people (and not just the British) are opting to retire here, attracted by the warm weather and relaxed lifestyle.
However, there are one or two things which will be different if you are considering moving house to Portugal. Here Hamiltons Removals, who can help with removals to Lisbon, Porto, and all parts of the country, outline a few of the customs and traditions which foreigners will need to get used to.
The Personal Touch
The Portuguese are a tactile and friendly people and stand quite close to one another when they talk to one another. They also occasionally touch each other during a conversation, which may be difficult for some foreigners (and particularly the English) to get used to if you are used to preserving your own personal space.
Personal greetings are more in line with UK norms – men shake hands while women kiss each other on each cheek. And in rural areas people are more familiar with each other than in the towns and cities.
Public Holidays Differ
Some public holidays are roughly in line with the UK and the rest of Europe. For instance, Easter is celebrated over four days, from Good Friday until the following Monday (although the Monday is not a public holiday, many people take the day off to be with friends or family). Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are celebrated as in many other countries and cultures.
However, there are a number of public holidays which are markedly different to those in the UK and elsewhere. Some are political or personal; for instance, Portugal Day on June 10 marks the passing (in 1580) of Luis de Camoes, a poet and national literary icon; and October 5 is Republic Day, which marks the end of the country’s monarchy in 1910.
Other holidays are regional and not national. For instance, July 1 is Madeira Day, as this was supposedly the day in 1419 when the Portuguese island was sighted by explorers for the first time.
The Importance of Religion
A number of public holidays are on the calendar because of their religious connections, as Portugal is a Catholic country. These holidays include the Day of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, and August 15 is Assumption Day – both important elements of the Catholic religion.
More generally, many Portuguese people – and particularly the older generations – attend Mass regularly and the religion plays an important part in their everyday lives.
Food and Festivals Go Hand in Hand
The Portuguese also celebrate individual saints’ days with festivals (although they aren’t usually public holidays) – and food and drink are important parts of that. For instance, St Martin’s Day on November 11 is also the occasion when that year’s new wine is tasted.
In June, the official days of Saints Anthony (12th-13th), John (23rd-24th), and Peter (28th-29th) take place. As part of the festivities, sardines are grilled in the streets, and revellers enjoy caldo verde, a traditional potato and collard greens soup topped with chouriço, a spiced sausage.
They Like their Art and Culture
Three Portuguese cities – Lisbon, Porto and Guimareas – have all been European Capitals of Culture in recent years. But, even at a local level, the Portuguese appreciate their art and literature, and most towns have their own art exhibitions and festivals. There’s also a rich literary tradition – as well as Luis de Camoes, Fernando Pessoa and José Saramago are two of the more influential European writers of the 20th century.
Music is also an important element of Portuguese life. This manifests itself primarily in the form of fado, a folk music genre which translates as ‘destiny’ or ‘fate’. This is popular across the country, but the style varies from region to region. In the Portuguese capital Lisbon, the music is quite up-tempo but in many of the provincial or rural areas it’s more downbeat.
Moving House to Portugal with Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons can help if you are considering removals to Lisbon, Porto, Evora, Albufeira, Aveiro and any other destination in Portugal. Our fleet of vehicles can take your possessions through the Channel Tunnel and effectively from door to door.
As with our shipping moves, you can choose to have a dedicated service, where you have exclusive use of one or more vehicles; or a part-load or groupage service, where your possessions will be part of a shared consignment.
We also offer commercial removals to Portugal, and we can combine this with a domestic removals package if you need to move employees at the same time. For more information, follow this link. And if you have any questions about any of our services, you can call us on 01379 855203.
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