terça-feira, 22 de dezembro de 2009

A very delicious festivity...



In Portugal Christmas is a very important festivity because it is when the family is all reunited. Besides that Portugal has a very strong catholic tradition so Xmas has also an important religion meaning.

Christmas in Portugal has a curious aspect, because the traditional food is different in the northern and southern regions of the country.

In the northern regions people eat boiled codfish with boiled potatoes and cabbage or octopus. In the southern regions people eat turkey!
The Portuguese desserts are really delicious!!

We have “rabanadas”, similar a French toast ( a kind of slices of bread with eggs milk and sugar, this dessert is topped with cinnamon and yellow sugar) “pão-de-ló” ( a kind of sweet bread) “aletria” ( boiled vermicelli sweet with eggs and cinnamon) “sonhos” (pumpkin fritters) and the famous “King’s Cake” ( a wreath like fruit cake laced with crystallized fruits and pine nuts, there is a little present inside the cake and a broad bean, the one who finds the broad bean in one slice, must pay the next “king cake”.)

Besides that, in Portugal we decorate the streets and our homes with various colour lights, and like many people around the word we decorate our Xmas tree with colour lights and balls. And below the Xmas tree we put de CRÈCHE representing the nativity of infant Jesus, with Virgin Mary and St Joseph.

Emanuel

2 comentários:

  1. hello,
    thanks for your interesting description of Xmas customs in Portugal - we are surprised that you eat turkey for Christmas like the British! Where does this difference between the north and south of Portugal come from?
    You are describing the custom of looking for the bean in the 'king cake' - what does it mean that you 'pay the next 'king cake' - are you happy when you find the bean or not?
    regards
    Jo, Ronee, Czytelnik

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  2. The first picture looks verry tasty
    & i would love to try it.
    & The last one looks like something we call Olliebollen & it's Verrry Gooood !

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