New Year

Ano novoNew Year (in Portuguese - Ano novo) in cities and villages cope differently. But everywhere it is supposed to wash before the holiday to the shine of the window.

Citizens love to spend this night on the street, in festivities, dancing. When the city clock strikes midnight, mutual congratulations, wishes of happiness, exchange of gifts begin. At home, everyone has a plentiful dinner as much as possible. They go to church in the morning, and then they eat again.

Village youth on New Year's Eve go home singing New Year's songs - janeiras ("January"). They wear fancy outfits and masks, usually under the leadership of the “old man” and “old woman”. The figures “old man” and “old woman” are sometimes made of straw, dressed in rags; they are dragged around the village with songs and with laughter and in conclusion solemnly burned. This burning is the symbolic destruction of the old year with all its troubles.

There is another “fire” ritual: lightly burn the log and store it all year, and if the house comes to misfortune, then burn this log to the ground. The Portuguese believe that the log has miraculous power, the good spirit of the hearth immediately comes to the rescue.

Since in Portugal, as in many other countries, grapes are considered a symbol of abundance, health and family hearth, it is customary on New Year's Eve with each beat of the clock to eat the grape (fresh or dried) and make wishes: twelve strokes - twelve cherished wishes for each month of the new year.

Feliz Ano Novo - Happy New Year!

The first day of the year is Janeiroz. According to ancient customs, it is supposed to wash all the mirrors in the house, for happiness and luck.