Christmas is here
The season that most people look for is Christmas: all the lights, the traditions, and families coming together make this one of the most special time of year.
November’s cold weather announces the Christmas spirit slowly setting in. You’ll start to see the shop’s window displays becoming filled with lights and Christmas ornaments.
Families begin once again decorating their homes with the Christmas trees or the Nativity scenes.
These days are without a doubt one of the season’s most exciting times as children dream with Santa and all the presents.
Children and youngsters get a thrill out of Christmas, trying to guess what Santa has got for them while the grown-ups get really busy buying all the presents. Lots of families come together during Christmas, meaning that some of them travel many miles just to be with their loved ones. By this season, many Portuguese emmigrants travel back to the villages where they were born just to spend a couple of days with their families.
At the Christmas table you won’t miss the very traditional steamed codfish with potatoes and vegetables dressed in portuguese olive oil, the roasted turkey, or even the octopus rice which is a traditional Christmas dish in some portuguese regions.
On Christmas Eve at night, dinner and a late supper brings the family together as the children await for Santa to come, and around midnight you get to trade presents with everyone. There are also some families that celebrate this day by going to the Midnight mass. After the mass families that celebrate this way head home, place baby Jesus imagery on the Nativity scene and then trade presents.
Finally on Christmas day, December 25th in Portugal is traditionally a day where most of businesses, from the small coffee shop to the big multinational company, you’ll find most of them to be closed due to Christmas celebrations on the night before and during this day. People in Portugal also tend lots of care to lunch on Christmas day, as families usually remain together or meet again to celebrate at lunch.
Things to do this Christmas season
Discover these portuguese cities and get into the joys of Christmas spirit in Lisbon you’ll find “Natal da FIL”: a major season event thinking all about the families. Here you’ll enjoy a Christmas Market, an Opportunities market, Chocolate Market and for the first time a Conventual Confections Market. You’ll also find at this event the biggest Indoor Popular Fair, and “FIL Diverlandia”, where you can buy your Christmas presents, taste some of the best season delicacies and have a great time! Stroll by the city to gaze at the wonderful Christmas lights, enjoy the great Christmas tree that is set at Terreiro do Paço and have a look at the Christmas village on Parque Eduardo VII where you’ll see Santa Claus and the Nativity Scene.
Óbidos village in Leiria region is full with bright lights, lots of colour and fantasy by this time. Between November 30th and the 31st December it is possible to visit Santa Claus house, the Nativity Scene and you can enjoy the ice track and many games & shows meant not only for children but for grown-ups too, so that you can enjoy all of this with your family.
The city of Porto always amazes people and specially on this season with all the streets lit up with Christmas decorations. The Christmas Tree in Porto is decorated in shades of gold and blue and rises up to 85 feet! Traditionally the city sets up an ice ring for people to enjoy and you’ll also find lots of Christmas Markets throughout the city.
Experience this amazing time of year in Portugal. North to South, you have numerous options to feel the Christmas magic. Celebrate Christmas with Portugal Premium Tours, we’re thinking of you!
