The family, always..
In Portugal, the family remains the heart of society. Children still often live close to their parents, to assist them in times of need. People gather for large meals on the occasion of family events or popular celebrations in honor of patron saints. As in the Latin countries, the inhabitants and especially the elderly like to get together in the late afternoon to chat in the shade... In the villages, it is not uncommon to see them sitting on stone benches on their doorstep. The feeling of isolation is rare and the maintenance at home, or the care, of the elderly continues to be ensured by the relatives.
Morals are changing..
The Portuguese opened their eyes wide when they observed the debate in France in 2013 about the law on same-sex marriage, so much so that the legalization of same-sex marriage in Portugal (January 2010) took place with relative indifference. It was "in the name of freedom, justice, equality and humanism" that Socialist Prime Minister Socrates launched the debate. Two months later, the law was passed. Neither the population, nor the religious authorities, nor even the right-wing opposition expressed any real disapproval. And yet, until 1982, in Portugal, homosexuality was a crime punishable by law... A few years later, in 2016, adoption was authorized for those same homosexual couples. At the same time, the deputies authorized female homosexual couples and single women to have recourse to medically assisted procreation (MAP), until now reserved for heterosexual unions.
Soccer, a national passion
It's a religion in Portugal. Television screens are everywhere, even in the smallest bistro in the smallest village. Hail to Cristiano Ronaldo, national hero and multiple winner of the Golden Ball! The national team is also the pride of the country, especially since its 2016 European Championship title (1-0 in the final against... France). But the real match within the match, the historical rivalry here, is between two clubs... from Lisbon: Benfica and Sporting. From one end of the country to the other, you have to wear the green striped jersey of the first or the red jersey of the second. You'll have to choose sides!
A country... quiet!
According to the index established by the Institute for Economic and Peace, Portugal is the fourth safest country in the world, behind Iceland and New Zealand! The index takes into account, among other things, political instability, internal conflicts, as well as the level of violence and militarization; in all, 23 factors are measured to establish the ranking of the 163 participating countries.
In the name of the father..
In Portugal, there are strict regulations regarding the naming of newborn children. These must be chosen from a list of 1,000 names proposed by the State. But that's not all: since the 20th century, the first name(s) chosen must be followed by the mother's (second) surname and then the father's. For example, if the mother's name is Cristina Silva Santos and the father's name is Pedro Ferreira Rodrigues, then their daughter could be called Matilda Santos Rodrigues.
Greetings in Portugal
Greetings, in Portugal, follow simple rules. Here, men do not kiss men, it is not done. On the other hand, a man (almost) always kisses a woman, just as women kiss each other. There is no difference between Évora, Lisbon or Porto: there are always two kisses, the first on the right cheek. To greet each other, one says "Bom dia" in the morning, "Boa tarde" in the afternoon (from noon, or after lunch...). Only after dinner do we say "Boa noite"... and that's even if no one intends to go to bed! If in doubt, stick to the most common greeting: the informal "olà", which is used for everything... To say goodbye, you can simply say "Até logo" (see you later), "Até breve" (see you soon) or walk away with "Chau" (ciao) or "Adeus", which doesn't mean "goodbye", but "au revoir"...! If you want to sound like a Portuguese, are comfortable with the language and... don't know the date of the reunion, you can say: "Adeus, se Deus quiser", which means: God willing..
Eating in Portugal
Eating out is a pleasure everywhere, but in Portugal, it is a deeply rooted habit. If you are not invited to dinner at home, don't feel bad. It may be simply because a dinner is a lot of work... for those who consider that a well treated guest should not be able to move from his chair at the end of the meal! Most of the time, Portuguese people like to meet outside, in a restaurant. No matter what the setting, they are there above all to enjoy themselves. Even on weekdays, the "tascas" often host large family or friendly tables where people eat for hours. The food is often simple and delicious, the products are fresh. In the morning and late afternoon, the Portuguese often head to the pastelaria for a coffee accompanied by a sweet or salty snack, a pastel or a brioche croissant, filled with ham or cheese..
10 habits to adopt in Portugal (or not)
Our little reflexes can irritate or make people smile, arouse surprise or incomprehension. In Portugal, we French have to adapt to some daily life rituals that are very different from what we know. For the worse, but mostly for the better...
Waiting in line for the bus.
In France, when you hope to enter a bus or a subway train, you sometimes have to accept to be stepped on without flinching. In Portugal, you will be happily surprised to see a queue forming spontaneously, with people waiting their turn to take their seat. How pleasant!Collect your ticket.
Adopt this reflex quickly: when you enter a store or an administration, look out for a ticket dispenser, as it is usually the case. Whether you go to the post office or the bakery, but also to the pharmacy or the supermarket, you will surely be asked for your ticket when it is your turn. Again, a very comfortable habit...Playing games of chance.
Many Portuguese people like to gamble. In addition to online games and betting, there are specialized stores here where you can fill in your lottery, Euromillions or sports betting forms. Casa da sorte ("houses of luck") are thus present in many cities.Parking
anywhere... In Portugal, outside the big cities, it is not uncommon to find free parking lots, which avoid searching for a place and digging into your pockets to pay the parking meter. When there is no more space (paying or not), it is time to find a place! It is not uncommon to find a vehicle parked in such a way that yours cannot maneuver.Stick to the car in front!
On the road, be careful! Portuguese drivers are used to driving fast, whatever the limits (depending on the region, controls are rare) and do not like to find you in their way... As a result, it is not uncommon to find a car stuck to your rear bumper. Moreover, even in normal times, the safety distance is an unknown notion here!Stop at the crosswalk!
A divine surprise for pedestrians: the respect of the crossings reserved for them, which here borders on religion. As soon as you try to cross the street, all the cars stop on each side! This is an excellent habit to adopt very quickly when you are driving, at the risk of looking like the worst kind of cad, if not a murderer...Twisting your feet on the sidewalks.
It is said that in Lisbon, women who are used to wearing high heels regularly consult for tendonitis problems! It must be admitted that the small cobblestones that adorn city streets are not always very comfortable. Irregular, slippery at the slightest rain, it does not help to walk. But this astonishing mosaic, often decorated with a caravel, a compass rose or an armillary sphere, makes all the charm of the Portuguese sidewalks. And it is well worth breaking your feet...Smell the grill. In Portugal, in the city or in the country, in winter or in summer, at noon or in the evening, when it's time to eat, it's time to grill! On a kitchen grill, a sophisticated barbecue or a simple grill placed on the sidewalk or at the end of a counter, you will necessarily be offered a grilled meat or fish. A few aromatic herbs, a plate of pan-fried potatoes... What else?
Crunching on unordered appetizers.
As soon as you sit down at your table in the restaurant, sometimes even before the menu, you are served small plates: bread, olives, butter, sardine pâté, sometimes a little goat cheese and a few slices of chorizo... It's hard to resist, especially when you are hungry! You just have to know that these appetizers are not free. If you don't want them, send them back or don't touch them. Or just treat yourself and don't order any other appetizers!This isa warning: if you are not careful, in Portugal you will often find yourself with heaps of food that you will never be able to finish, even if you are a big eater! So be careful, and don't hesitate - when possible - to order a "meia dose", knowing that a whole dose, depending on the establishment, can be a dish for two... or for several! The best is to ask the waiter..
