We arrived back in Portugal halfway through January 1, which curtailed the usual over-the-top New Year’s Day eating to normal levels on Friday and postponed it to Sunday. After all, you need a full day to eat — a half-day just won’t do. This being my third seating at a Portuguese New Year table I had an idea of what to expect (Christmas, Part 2), but for some reason I always forget about the raisins.
The idea is that you need 12 raisins for each month of the year, you make a wish for each raisin, and toast it all with champagne.
But that’s not all, of course, this is Portugal. It has such a long history that many traditions — regional and national — have developed over the centuries. I’ve seen a few of them on TV, but witnessing them all in person requires a road trip to a different part of the country every year.
Let me save you some time: Sandra Silva compiled an article listing the Portuguese food traditions and regional New Year’s celebrations over at Pocket Cultures, with a few video clips added. (Which reminds me: the Portuguese island of Madeira’s annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display is massive — you’ll see a video of it in her post.)
Some traditions she mentions:
- Money in your pocket to attract richness for the New Year;
- Wear blue slippers/boxers/ panties to attract good fortune and harmony;
- Step down from a chair with your right foot, so the New Year will be a positive one;
- Banging pots and pans, so the bad spirits go away.
For Ice the Dog’s sake, there was no banging of pots and pans. (Drumming sends him into fits of trembling.)
Our dessert table is by no means comprehensive: if you live in Portugal, you might notice an absence of Bolo Rei (King Cake). Since we weren’t around for Christmas, the family might’ve had their fill of Bolo Rei already. We did have the northern specialty caldo verde, though, but I was too busy eating it to take a photo (my approach to New Year’s in general).
Bom Ano!
frutas secas (dried fruit)
pineapple cake
papos de anjo (‘angel’s belly’ or ‘angel’s double chin’)
pão de ló (sponge cake)
pineapple and mango
rabanadas (similar to French toast)
Ice the Dog, always under the table begging
January 3, 2016
Album: Portugal [Winter 2015/2016]
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