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New Year’s Eve traditions in Portugal
The 7 most common beliefs
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entering the new year, Portuguese people have a lot of superstitions. From
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What to do in Portugal / Interesting facts
15 Interesting facts about Portugal
Learn more about Portugal, Lisbon and Porto
Discover some interesting facts about Portugal and its two main cities before your next trip. From history to culture, gastronomy and so much more.
Port wine
Exclusively produced from the grapes of the Douro demarcated region, approximately 100 km from the city of Porto, its the most internationalised drink of Portugal. But youll rarely find it at a natives table.
Pastéis de Belém (custard tarts), only in Belém
They have conquered the entire world, but one thing is certain you can only eat Pastéis de Belém (custard tarts)... in Belém. The original recipe has been kept a secret since the 19th century until the present day. This delicacy can be found anywhere in the country, where its known as Pastel de Nata.
Tempura
The famous Japanese dish has Portuguese origin and was brought to Japan by Portuguese Jesuit missionaries, in the 16th century. The name derives from the expression ad tempora quadragesimae which means in the time of Lent, given that missionaries didnt eat meat during that time.
Two kisses
In Portugal, we great each other with two kisses, one on each side of the face, regardless of knowing the person or being intimate with them.
Expresso
Portuguese people love expresso coffee and drink it several times a day, including in the evening. Usually, people are invited to drink coffee and it doesnt necessarily entail drinking coffee, its just an excuse to gather around the table and chat.
Beer
Locals drink national beer, always cold, during meals or at the end of the day, to relax. People from the south prefer the brand Sagres and people from the north the brand Super Bock, both are Portuguese brands.
Rivalry between Porto and Lisbon
As is common in other countries, here rivalry between the north and south is also present, starring Porto and Lisbon. Its usually emphasised by football, especially between two main football clubs Futebol Clube do Porto (FCP) and Sport Lisboa e Benfica (SLB).
One of the main surf spots
Portugal is increasingly considered to have the best conditions to surf in the world, due to its 800 km of coastal area and because its possible to practise this sport almost 365 days a year.
The giant waves of Nazaré
On that note, the biggest wave in the world was surfed in Nazaré, by the Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa, in November 2017. The surfer beat the hitherto record holder McNamara by 61 centimetres, with a wave of 24.38 metres!
We have the oldest bookshop in the world
Did you know that the Bertrand bookshop of Chiado, in Lisbon, has been opened since 1732 and is the oldest bookshop in the entire world? On the other hand, Livraria Lello, in Porto, is considered one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world and its said to have inspired some Harry Potter scenes.
Codfish
The tradition in consuming this type of fish is due to the maritime history of our country since the Portuguese discoveries. Its said that we have more than 1000 ways of cooking it. Despite eating this fish frequently, our gastronomy is much more diverse.
The Portuguese language
Portuguese is the official language of 9 countries, only 5% of Portuguese speakers live in Portugal the 2nd most Portuguese-populated city in the world is Paris! Portuguese is spoken in Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.
Ceramic swallows
In Portugal, the swallows herald the arrival of spring and, at the end of the 19th century, its silhouette was sculpted by the ceramist Raphael Bordalo Pinheiro. In addition to love and loyalty, they represent home and family and those that spread their wings to explore the world, but always come back to their country.
Saudade, word or feeling?
The word saudade doesnt exist just in Portuguese, as people say. This word, of Latin origin, also exists in other languages. Its meaning has been widely spread and, in Portugal, saudade not only means missing something|someone but also represents the pleasure or nostalgia that you feel towards this kind of pain caused by absence.
Cork
Portugal is the largest cork exporter in the world. Apart from being completely ecological and 100 natural, its extremely versatile. Cork is largely used in the production of bottle corks, but has been gaining ground in areas such as fashion, interior design and even civil engineering.
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Portugal is a country of friendly and welcoming people, a unique gastronomy, attractive weather and an immensely rich history and culture.
Located in southwestern Europe, Portugal is one of the oldest countries in the continent, together with its capital, Lisbon, one of the oldest cities, even older than Rome. Its history is as vast as its culture. You can cover travel its entire geographic territory, from north to south, and be dazzled by the variety of landscapes, people and traditions. In the north, you'll find more mountains, more tradition, colder and windier weather, whereas in the south, you'll find more plains, more contemporaneity, more multiculturalism and warmer weather.
The gastronomy is simple, but delicious and varied - as opposed to what is said, it's not just cod fish. We produce Port wine but we rarely drink it, it's easier to find someone grabbing a beer instead.
Hand in hand with history and tradition, Portugal is ever more contemporary, with Lisbon and Porto on the world's radar of the best cities to visit. Nonetheless, the country has a lot more to offer than just these two tourist attractions.
If you're thinking of travelling to Portugal, discover some interesting facts before you book your trip, or just share them with friends at home once you return.
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