{"id":1076,"date":"2023-07-06T14:30:04","date_gmt":"2023-07-06T13:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hamiltonsremovals.co.uk\/news\/?p=1076"},"modified":"2026-04-15T18:42:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T17:42:30","slug":"important-portuguese-customs-and-traditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hamiltonsremovals.co.uk\/news\/important-portuguese-customs-and-traditions\/","title":{"rendered":"Important Portuguese Customs and Traditions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Moving<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Almost three-quarters of a million Britons now live in Portugal, according to the Mediterranean country\u2019s Foreigners and Borders Service \u2013 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Personal Touch<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personal greetings are more in line with UK norms \u2013 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public Holidays Differ<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s Day are celebrated as in many other countries and cultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s monarchy in 1910.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Importance of Religion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2013 both important elements of the Catholic religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More generally, many Portuguese people \u2013 and particularly the older generations \u2013 attend Mass regularly and the religion plays an important part in their everyday lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food and Festivals Go Hand in Hand<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Portuguese also celebrate individual saints\u2019 days with festivals (although they aren\u2019t usually public holidays) \u2013 and food and drink are important parts of that. For instance, St Martin\u2019s Day on November 11 is also the occasion when that year\u2019s new wine is tasted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 chouri\u00e7o, a spiced sausage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They Like their Art and Culture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three Portuguese cities \u2013 Lisbon, Porto and Guimareas \u2013 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\u2019s also a rich literary tradition \u2013 as well as Luis de Camoes, Fernando Pessoa and Jos\u00e9 Saramago are two of the more influential European writers of the 20th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2018destiny\u2019 or \u2018fate\u2019. 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\u2019s more downbeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moving House to Portugal with Hamiltons Removals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>. And if you have any questions about any of our services, you can call us on 01379 855203.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAQs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What\u2019s the visa situation if you are moving to Portugal from the UK?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: UK citizens need a visa to move to and live in Portugal, as they are now considered non-EU nationals. While you can visit for up to 90 days in a 180-day period without a visa, relocating requires a long-stay residency visa (such as the D7 or D8 Digital Nomad visa) obtained before moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Why do some Portuguese shops and services close in the middle of the day?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: While large shopping centres stay open, many traditional shops and family-run businesses still close for lunch between 1-3pm. This isn’t a “siesta” culture like Spain; it\u2019s simply a time dedicated to enjoying a proper sit-down meal with family or colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Is it acceptable to speak Spanish in Portugal if I don\u2019t know Portuguese?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: Avoid this if possible. While the languages are similar, speaking Spanish to a Portuguese person can be seen as a sign that you view Portugal as an extension of Spain, which is a point of national pride. Most Portuguese people speak excellent English or would prefer you try basic Portuguese phrases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All information is correct at the time of writing<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Almost three-quarters of a million Britons now live in Portugal, according to the Mediterranean country\u2019s Foreigners and Borders Service \u2013 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nMoving House to Portugal | Key Customs and Traditions<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Moving House to Portugal | Hamiltons Removals detail some important traditions and customs to know about if you are thinking of moving house to Portugal\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hamiltonsremovals.co.uk\/news\/important-portuguese-customs-and-traditions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Moving House to Portugal | Key Customs and Traditions\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Moving House to 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