Looking for a winter holiday destination?
How about spending this Christmas in Portugal?
Christmas is approaching, and arrangements are coming together. There’s no time like the present to start planning your winter holidays!
Seeking out that special somewhere to wake up to on Christmas day? Looking to explore new traditions and locations? And make memories that will live on for years to come? Then we’ve got some ideas that may just pique your interest.
How about spending Christmas in Portugal?
If you’re considering seeking out some winter sun for your December holidays 2022, why not spend Christmas in the Algarve? Promising mild temperatures and blue skies for most of the winter months, southern Portugal is a popular winter escape. However, if a Portuguese Christmas strikes your fancy, there are a few things you should know to help you get into the spirit and not miss out on the fun.
For instance, did you know that Christmas in Portugal is held on the evening of the 24th of December rather than on the 25th? This means you can indulge in a Portuguese Christmas dinner as well as your own traditional one on the 25th. Talk about a dreamy 2-in-1! But what can you expect from a Portuguese Christmas dinner?
Food at a Portuguese Christmas
Kicking off with snacks, Christmas Eve in Portugal means a grazing table for the books. We’re talking almonds, walnuts, pine nuts and hazelnuts, raisins, figs, dates, and candied fruits. All perfect for whetting your appetite before a hearty (very late!) dinner.
And on the subject of your Christmas Dinner, forget turkey if you’re opting for traditional Portuguese grub. The meal here most often centres around cod. It can be roasted, boiled, or served along with potatoes, cabbage, turnip greens, carrots, chickpeas and boiled eggs, generously drizzled with good olive oil. However, some opt for octopus as their main event.
Then come the desserts. Honey and almond cakes, fig cheeses, chickpea and sweet potato pastries, delights filled with bright yellow egg custard, and even fruit-encrusted “King Cake”.
It’s all part of the fun, served with flowing wine and, most often, an aperitif, before presents are opened at midnight in a flurry of wrapping paper and grateful hugs.
So, where can you spend the perfect Christmas out in the Algarve?
The Algarve, especially the Lagos region, is far from short on options of where to spend a magical Christmas. Even a walk around town to take in the lights and decorations is sure to get you into the spirit.
In search of the perfect Christmas out? Opt for a Christmas Day Lunch with live music, or a Gold New Years’ Eve Gala at Boavista Golf and Spa resort, for example. Or Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals at Penina Hotel and Golf Resort. While you’re there, it may be worth checking out their Phantom of the Opera-themed New Year’s Eve “extravaganza”.
New Year in Lagos is always celebrated with the 12 chimes of the church bells and a bang (literally!) in the shape of fireworks for all, as well as live music in the town centre. So, even if you prefer to play it by ear and join the locals, you’re sure to get your New Year off to a memorable start.
A Cosy Christmas (or New Year!) at LUX MARE
Then you have the option of the best of both worlds. Enjoying Algarve landscapes and temperatures while also having a cosy Christmas or New Year’s dinner at home, catered by your chef. Will you choose to have all your home comforts served, or will some local delicacies strike your fancy? Now that’s for you to decide…
