Immigration to Portugal by purchasing property Learn about the Portuguese people: The general characteristics of Portuguese social customs can be summarized as follows: Portugal is the westernmost country in Europe, with a broad-minded national character; they are delicate in emotion and fond of openness, disliking complexity in interactions; they enjoy chatting about bullfighting and everyone respects the carnation; they avoid "13" and "Friday," believing they bring disaster; staring at others is considered malicious and will surely invite trouble. There are the following characteristics in daily life details:
The Portuguese have a broad-minded and cheerful personality, with sincere and delicate emotions. They treat others with enthusiasm and honesty, preferring direct speech over beating around the bush. They are serious in their dealings and polite to guests; regardless of status, they generally see guests off to the door personally.
During holidays, people generally love to picnic. Ancient castles, windmills, and roadside flower patches are all great places for them to picnic. Any passersby who happen to walk nearby will be warmly invited by them.
They enjoy chatting about their country's merits and personal hobbies, and activities like civilized bullfighting are topics they love to discuss. They have a preference for carnations, viewing them as symbols of revolution and victory, often using them to congratulate one another, and they regard them as the national flower.
They like lavender and amaranth because these plants have both ornamental value and economic utility, and they bring people joy and happiness.
Etiquette and Manners
When Portuguese men meet, they are generally accustomed to warm embraces and patting each other on the shoulders. When women who are familiar with each other meet, they are generally accustomed to kissing each other on both cheeks. In social settings, they are also no strangers to the handshake.
General Etiquette
Restaurant bills usually include a service charge, but it is acceptable to leave an additional 10% tip. Forms of Address and Greetings: In Portugal, men are accustomed to hugging each other when they meet, usually with a warm embrace and back-patting. Women kiss each other on both cheeks among close friends.
Appointments and Punctuality
Do not schedule appointments with business people between noon and 3:00 PM, as all activities cease during this period. It is essential to book appointments in advance. Although the Portuguese are not very strict about punctuality, guests should still arrive on time.
Hospitality and Gift Giving
If invited to a banquet, it is not necessary to bring a gift. A reciprocal gesture is to invite your host to dine at a restaurant. Conversation: Guests should avoid discussing politics and the government. It is polite to talk about family life, the positive aspects of Portugal, and personal interests, etc., but being overly curious or asking too many questions during conversation is considered impolite.
Beliefs and Taboos
The vast majority of Portuguese are Roman Catholic, with a small minority of Protestants and Jews.
They avoid "13" and "Friday," as people have a sense of fear regarding them, believing that "13" and "Friday" are symbols of bad luck and disaster.
They dislike others asking about their age, marital status, or financial income. They believe these are personal matters and that others have no right to interfere. They are wary of people who stare at them for a long time, considering it a sign of ill intent.
They are unwilling to discuss issues related to politics or the government.
Dietary Habits
When receiving guests, the Portuguese often treat them with the local specialty "roasted pork intestine." It is said that this "roasted pork intestine" was designated as a delicacy to commemorate the ancestors who defended the country.
They are fond of drinking wine and are quite particular about the timing of consumption; generally, they drink an aperitif before a meal; they drink digestive wine after a meal; white wine is paired with seafood dishes; red wine is paired with meat dishes; rosé wine is paired with cold dishes; and sparkling wine is paired with desserts.
They possess superb culinary skills that rival those of the French. 365 days a year, they can prepare the delicious national dish—dried cod—in different ways every day. They love visiting restaurants to taste delicious food.
They generally follow a Western diet and also highly appreciate Chinese cuisine. They are accustomed to using knives and forks while dining.
