The Lisbon Connection » Christmas & New Year

Lisbon at Christmas time: kitsch, a giant tree, eco-decoration, lingerie and Maria & Jesus

Julie Kruijs — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:24:32 +0000

In December, thousands of colourful lights decorate Lisbon. Portuguese people love ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, celebrating Christmas with a lot of X-mas kitsch. Everywhere you look you see blinking neon lights, Christmas markets and decorated shops. If you are a Christmas hater, maybe it’s a better idea to visit this fascinating city some other time

Rua da Prata, December 2009

National Theatre Teatro Nacional Doña Maria II. Christmas time in Lisbon is similar to everywhere else in the world, except that the decorations has a higher kitsch factor.

Rua da Palma, lingerie shop close to one of my favorite restaurants RAMIRO

Hermes, Largo do Chiado 9. They really love Christmas window dressing with animals! (Christmas 2008)

Watch-guard shop near Rossio, Praça da Figueira

Further, there’s a giant 44m Christmas tree, set up on the highest point of Eduardo VII park, with 1.625.000 (!) mini lights, lighting up the tree’s decorations from 17:30 pm – 1am. Of course, children love it!

YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi7h-qLRflc

Lisbon’s unique & original Ladra Alternativa (Alternative Flea Market ). Christmas decoration made from Nespresso caps (3 euro)

A creative idea to make some money at Christmas time……

Benetton shop, Rua Garrett

The clothing market shrinked this year because of the crisis, as well as the sweaters of Benetton

And Maria & Jesus? You can make a reservation in their restaurant in Mouraria, “Tentações (Temptations) de Goa”

NEW YEAR: on the night of December 31, Lisbon is one big street party! Live music and a fantastic fireworks display (Parque das Nações , EXPO 98). According to the Portuguese tradition, twelve wishes are made to the sound of the twelve bell tolls, toasting with champaign to the new year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! FELIZ ANO NOVO!

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Lisbon & autumn: the unmistakeable smell of roasted chestnuts (castanhas) ‘quente e boas!’ (’get’em hot!)

Julie Kruijs — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:42:13 +0000

The unmistakeable smell of roasted chestnuts (castanhas assadas) is announcing autumn’ s arrival in Portugal. ‘Quentes e boas’! ‘(Get’ em hot!). This cry goes out on the Lisbon streets.

‘Hot and good, a dozen for € 2“. Much to the chagrin of many, the traditional paper cone made out of the Yellow Papers has been replaced by soulless paper packages, which takes something away from the ritual of chestnuts.

Saint Martin Day, is celebrated on November 11. It is called Magusto. This day is the peak of three days, often with very good weather, known as Verão de São Martinho (Saint Martin summer). The Portuguese celebrate it with jeropiga (a sweet liqueur wine) and roasted chestnuts (castanhas assadas).

Baixa Lisbon, December 17, 2008

Traditions dictates that family and friends gather around a glowing hearth or bonfire, where they roast chestnuts and drink água-pé (a watered kind of wine), jeropiga, vinho novo (young wine), or the slow smooth burn of aguardente (’firewater’, alcoholic drinks between 29 and 60 percent alcohol).

Because this pagan festival is a celebration of life, there is food and drink and plenty of fun: in some regions people smother themselves with ashes, black themselves up and sing around the fire.

Largo do Chadio, Lisbon December 2008

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Lisbon at Christmas time, New Year & traditions (who gets the bean?)

Julie Kruijs — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 21:25:44 +0000

Already in November Lisbon is busy decorating the streets and the trees. Thousands of lovely colourful Christmas lights decorate the city, from Rossio and the Baixa/Chiado downton area to the Avenida Novas and beyond to Belém. It is said that, due to the financial crisis, the banks stopped sponsoring the Christmas decorations.

Mouraria, December 2008, church near Praça Martim Moniz

Rossio, November 23rd. A children’s choir singing Christmas carols (Janeiras).

Lisbon, November 22nd (picture: Getty). Fireworks light up the sky during the lighting ceremony of Lisbon’s Christmas tree placed at Eduardo VII Park in downtown Lisbon. This giant 44 metre Christmas tree is decorated with more than 1.6 million lights.

Tradition: Students (try to) sing a Christmas Carol in the streets and ask for money..

A woman, also dressed in black, is asking for money too….. and there’s a lot of poor people begging on the streets of Lisbon, not only at Christmas time….

Praca Dom Pedro IV (Rossio), beautiful ‘wave’ pavement

On Christmas Eve , December 24, mosts restaurants are closed from lunchtime. Families gather around the Christmas tree. Many attend the Midnight Mass (Missa do Galo). After mass they gather around the table and have supper (Ceia de Natal).

At the night of December 31, thousands of people gather near the waterfront of the Tagus River at Praça do Comércio, to welcome the new year. In the best of Portuguese traditions, a shower of light and colour will flood Lisbon’s most famous square, with a fireworks display to the sound of the twelve gongs. From 22:00 there’s a stage with live concerts with famous Portuguese names like Sérgio Godinho, considered as one of the most influential popular musicians in Portugal. There will be plenty of entertainment at the bars. Also in Parque das Nações there is a fireworks show near the river. The festivities continue non-stop at Casino Lisboa (Alamedo dos Oceanos), with musical concerts at the Arena Lounge (above 18 free entry).

Until January 6 (Dia de Reis) the surrounding area will feature a variety of entertainment inlcuding musical shows for the whole family.

Feliz Natal! (Happy New Year!). A traditional dessert is Bolo Rei (Kings’ cake). This fruitcake is a typically New Years cake, but is becoming popular during Christmas Holidays. In the cake there are two surprises: one is a little present, the other one is not welcomed: a raw broad bean. Whoever gets this bean has to buy the Bolo Rei in the coming year.

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Lisbon shopping: Christmas decoration & remarkable window dressing

Julie Kruijs — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:51:02 +0000

Already in November Lisbon is busy decorating the streets and the trees with lots of Christmas lights. Walking along the Baixa and Chiado, visitors have plenty of opportunity to find the perfect gift, to suit everyone’s wallet. The windows of the shops are dressed up with Christmas decorations, and some are quite remarkable! Herewith some examples of ‘Portuguese creativity’ in Lisbon’s commercial heart, the neighborhoods of Baixa and Chiado.

Christmas window dressing Largo do Chiado

Christmas window dressing Rua da Prata

Hermés, December 2008, Largo do Chiado 9, Lisbon

Baixa area

Luxury food shop: shop Manteigaria Silva, Rua D. Antao de Almada 1-C and D

Besides: Jingle bells! Even trams (Electrico Natal) are decorated with lights and steered by Santa Claus himself!

‘Feliz Natal’ (Merry Christmas!).

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