Farewell, old routine, welcome new life!
Fireworks over the coast in Portugal on New Year’s Eve with winter sunshine and festive celebrations
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Whether you’re dreaming of relocating or investing in a holiday home, mid-winter is the ideal time to experience life in Portugal at its most authentic. So, what could you look forward to by spending New Year’s Eve here?
Portugal has many traditions for New Year's Eve, and one of the most iconic is to eat twelve raisins with a glass of sparkling wine or ‘espumante’ as the clock strikes midnight. Some say it’s a raisin for each stroke of the clock, while others claim it’s for each month of the year. Whatever you believe, make sure you consciously make a wish as you devour each of the twelve raisins!
The ritual of banging pots and pans together to ward off evil spirits and negative energy is one of the oldest superstitions in the world, believed to have originated before the Roman Empire. The objective is to scare away ghosts and evil spirits that may have haunted the previous year.
Fireworks or ‘fogo de artificio’ are another tradition found throughout the country to keep evil away and for purification. One of the largest and most spectacular displays can be found in Madeira.
Weather-wise, it’s usually very pleasant with warm, winter sun during the day - perfect for a stroll along the beach with a cosy hoody. But temperatures are cooler at night, especially in the north of the country.
On New Year’s Day, you could always take a dip in the ocean. Not for the faint-hearted, but if you’re feeling brave, you can go to the beach and run into the ocean alongside others who also want a fresh, if not chilly start to 2026!
So out with the old and in with the new… Old traditions and new adventures in your dream home in Portugal? Contact us now to find out just how easy it can be.
Published in: At Home Magazine / Portuguese Life