Did you know that the famous Brazilian carnival originated in Portugal? Back in the 17th century, South Americans saw how the Portuguese celebrated Shrovetide with a costume parade, dancing, and singing, and adopted this tradition.
And even though the local carnivals are not as hyped and crowded as the Brazilian ones, the atmosphere is just as good. The festive parades last for a week. Both large cities and small towns celebrate. The most famous carnival is considered to be the one in Torres Vedras. Parties in Ovar, Estarreja, Loulé, and Famalicão are also popular.
A series of mass celebrations takes place in the summer. It seemed to me that the Portuguese were constantly partying. Festivals start in cities and spill over into villages — one follows another.
Santo Antonio Festival
Where: in Lisbon
Saint Anthony is the patron saint of Lisbon because he was born in this city. The canonized preacher is responsible for matters of marriage. That is why many Portuguese couples get married on his feast day. During the processions along Avenida da Liberdade, you can see people in wedding attire. If you don't have a significant other yet, look for them in the crowd. For good luck in matters of the heart, it is customary to give peas with basil on this day.
And there will be plenty of fried sardines at the festival, as June marks the start of the fishing season for this small fish.
San Juan Festival
Where: in Porto
John the Baptist (Portuguese version: São João) is considered the patron saint of Porto. The celebration in honor of this Christian saint was superimposed on the pagan solstice festival. You won't see bonfires in the center of the northern capital, but in the villages, as in our country, it is customary to jump over the flames to cleanse oneself of sins and evil.
There is another amusing tradition in Porto: hitting passers-by on the head with a children's squeaky hammer. In the past, leeks were used as a weapon — I think they hurt more. I couldn't find an explanation for this custom. I dare to suggest that it is a way of getting rid of impure thoughts.
At midnight, the party moves to the waterfront, where fireworks set to music await the crowd. Then the crowd heads to Aliadush Square, where bands and DJs perform until morning.
Music festivals
In June, Portugal kicks off a series of cool music festivals. They are held in different parts of the country. I will tell you about some of the biggest ones.
The four-day festival Primavera Sound festival in Porto features a large number of performers. Among the most anticipated in 2023 were the Pet Shop Boys, Blur, and New Order.
July in Lisbon features a three-day open-air festival NOS Alive with several stages and a food court. Metallica performed there in 2022, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers will perform in 2023.
In the middle of the month, the beer brand is holding its three-day festival at Lisbon's Parque das Nações. Super Bock Super Rock. Incidentally, in 2023, it will be headlined by Offspring.
Then the musical action continues in the city on the other side of the Douro River—Vila Nova de Gaia. The organizer Marés Vivas is the mobile operator MEO. In 2023, the headliners will include the Black Eyed Peas.
Medieval market
Where: in Obidush
In a small town surrounded by a thousand-year-old wall, three major festivals are held annually: Christmas, Chocolate, and Medieval. The latter is considered unique. Hundreds of actors dressed in ancient costumes roam the streets of Obidos. Local craftsmen's products are sold on stalls along the castle. Restaurants serve dinners according to medieval traditions.
- Croatia's 10 best summer festivals of 2023
- The most anticipated music tours of 2023: Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Coldplay
- Where the best hangouts are: a guide to music festivals 2023
Feast of Our Lady of Agony
Where: in Viana do Castelo
In a small town by the ocean in northern Portugal stands the Church of Our Lady of Agony, to which people have been making pilgrimages since the 17th century. The journey to Viana do Castelo has since become a major holiday.
Here you can see a column of drummers, a procession of people wearing large puppet heads, and a historical and ethnographic parade featuring more than 3,000 extras dressed in Portuguese costumes. The highlight of the festival is a procession of women dressed in traditional costumes from the city of Viana do Castelo, adorned with lots of gold jewelry. I heard that some participants in this procession are accompanied by security guards.
San Mateu Fair
Where: in Viseu
The roots of this fair date back to the 14th century. Over time, the dates and formats of the event have changed many times. In recent years, it has become one of the longest-running celebrations in the country.
Starting from the opening of the fair, concerts are held every day in the city—some free, others paid. An amusement park, food courts, and the fairgrounds themselves are set up on the festival grounds, where you can buy everything from souvenirs to cars. On St. Matthew's Day, the festival closes with a festive fireworks display.
Grape harvest
Where: at many wineries in Portugal
When: late September – early October
I recommend going to Vindima, which is the name of this celebration, in the Douro region. Its picturesque hills with vineyards are sure to impress. Choose a quinta with its own winery that you like — there are more than a dozen of them in this area — and enjoy its atmosphere.
You will receive a warm welcome at the plantation. They will tell you about the wine-making process and invite you to participate in the harvest or even tread the grapes with your bare feet in a vat. And just imagine the photos you can take among the bushes with their fiery-colored leaves and clusters of juicy fruit! Wine tasting is an essential part of this program.
Chestnut Festival
Where: village Marvão and other places in Portugal
When: November 11
The chestnut harvest season begins at the end of October. From this time on, the streets of cities become filled with more and more smoking carts selling roasted chestnuts. But the chestnut festival itself is celebrated on November 11.
"On St. Martin's Day, people eat chestnuts and taste wine," they say in Portugal. I should note that they are referring to young wine—verde (green), which ripens just in time for the beginning of November.
The village of Marvão, located near the Spanish border, is the main venue for the festivities. It was here that Saint Martin covered a poor man with his cloak and promised that the sun would come out. Other places in the Alentejo region also host lively parties with music, dancing, and dishes featuring chestnuts.
In winter, Portugal hosts Christmas markets, the most famous of which takes place in Obidos. The next big event is the celebration of spring—the Portuguese carnival, which I mentioned at the beginning.
