First time in Lisbon? Don’t worry, you’ll feel like home in no time! Plus the winter season is already here, so here are 5 Christmas Traditions in Portugal in preparation for you spending the most wonderful, gorgeous stupendous time of the year in this beautiful country!

1. Most Portuguese people are Catholics, so really the entire array of traditions and customs that are common throughout all Western Christendom can be found in Portugal as well in one form or another. Decorating the Christmas Tree is, of course, one of them. Christmas Trees are set in living rooms, but they can also be found everywhere throughout the cities, in shopping Malls and in institutions.

2. The burning of wood and Christmas logs is a deeply rooted tradition, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. And Christmas is all about the light after all.

3. Buy beautiful Christmas toys from Obidos, a true land of Christmas where there is a toy factory… which is said to belong to Santa Claus! Plus the city, with its medieval air, is well worth a visit this season! You can get a Lisbon airport transfer to Obidos for a low price online.

4. Christmas is all about the home made sweets as well. Bolo Rei is the traditional cake eaten on Christmas. No Christmas visit to Portugal could be complete without a taste of it.

5. A local tradition originating in Benquerença sees young women going from house to house around the neighbourhood drawing crosses with flour on the doors. Legend has it that when Jesus was born, one of Herod’s soldiers marked the door of the house where the Lord was hiding with flour in order to find it when coming back with the army to kill Him. Upon returning, they found all of the doors of the houses marked thus.

What do you think about all these fascinating traditions?