Christmas and New Year in Portugal

Christmas in Portugal

Christmas celebrations

Although Christmas celebration is somehow universal, you do get the small and bigger differences per country or culture. Christmas in Portugal, is mainly a time to spend with family. Although Christmas trees have been more popular since the 70’s, the main decoration still is the “presépio”, the nativity scenes, that each home will have, and that towns will display in larger sizes and sometimes even with real people and animals playing out the roles. The Portuguese love to go and visit them. You will witness plenty of light decoration during December in the cities too, and although palm trees with Christmas lights might not give you the same feeling, it does get you into a winter atmosphere. Plenty of Christmas trees though during Christmas in Portugal!

Christmas Algarve

Christmas-in-the-Algarve?

Have a Christmas break to remember…

Wrap up your Christmas and celebrate your Christmas in style with a nice holiday home in the Algarve!

If you fancy getting away from the hustle and bustle of Christmas, then do try the Algarve!  Christmas decorations go up in the towns and villages and the palm trees along the water front promenades sparkle with Christmas lights. There are plenty of restaurants open offering traditional Christmas dinners or have a nice, cosy Christmas dinner at your holiday villa!

All the traditional foods for Christmas are available – turkey, cranberry sauce, bread sauce (if you don’t make your own!), stuffing mixes and chestnuts aplenty. Turkeys are usually fresh and in all the supermarkets and butchers.

Portuguese Christmas

Christmas celebrations in Portugal traditionally start on December 8th, (the day of ‘Our Lady of the Conception’) and end on twelfth night. Christmas itself is celebrated on Christmas Eve night with a big family meal, traditionally of ‘bacalhau’ (salted cod fish), and lots of delicious savoury and sweet nibbles. (‘Fatias Douradas’ – slices of bread dipped in a milk, sugar and egg mix, fried and dusted with cinnamon are one of the favourite Christmas nibbles in Algarvean homes along with various almond sweets.) Presents are opened at midnight and then Christmas Day is for relaxing with family and friends.

Christmas Weather

We cannot guarantee sun, but it will be warmer then in Northern Europe. It can be nice and sunny during the daytime , but from 5pm onwards, it will get fresh. Therefore you need a good, quality holiday villa!

We like to suggest you few villas, but please contact me for more suggestions and any further details!

Casa Lavender

Located between market town Messines and historic Silves. Casa Lavender has 3 en-suite bedrooms, large open lounge, dining and kitchen area. From you doorstep you can make fantastic walks through the green valley, and meet a local farmer or shepherd.

Casa Colina

Located walking distance from some Portuguese bars and restaurants, with superb, magnificent countryside views, Casa Colina,  ideal for large groups, but also fine for a couple. Enjoy every day fresh eggs from the chicken in the garden, the Moroccan style bath rooms, wood burner, large colonial terrace with lounge cushions….

Casa Tootsie

Have your own cinema, gym and pool table, underfloor heating and wood burner…. 8 lucky guests can enjoy  Casa Tootsie, central in the Algarve, close to picturesque Boliquieme.

Casa Arrochela

This luxury villa is a you must seen to believe, as Casa Arrochela is located at the river Arade, just a 5 minutes drive a way from historic Silves. The amazing sunset over the river Arade is not to be missed! Sleeps 8 in 4 en-suite bedrooms.

How may I help you?

Hello, I’m Michele, your contact for Algarvehousing.net.
We pride ourselves in giving individual customer care, so if you have any questions please contact me.

Phone: +351 963 717 094 or Send an e-mail