The Portuguese calendar is loaded with festivals and holidays that end up packing the streets and bars with people ready to celebrate. Many of these originate from Catholicism and Christianity, and, as a result, have been spread to the far corners of the world.
Wherever Portugal sailed to and set up during its colonial era, you can assume that those countries now have their own versions of these staple celebrations. What’s a bit bizarre is that these countries have become more famous for these celebrations than Portugal now is in the modern day.
Predominantly, Brazil and some Caribbean nations are now famed for the festivals Portugal exported. Luckily, the Algarve continues to go big on these world-famous celebrations – even if they don’t catch the headlines quite as they do elsewhere. These are the big ones to look out for.
Shrove Tuesday
It’s come and gone with a bang in 2024, but in 2025, it’d be well worth circling the dates around Tuesday, March 4. Also Shrove Tuesday and Pancake Day, that’s also the time that Portugal’s Carnaval gets underway. The celebrations for Carnaval in Brazil are world-renowned, with the streets being filled with colorful costumes, dancing, music, and huge parade floats.
In the Algarve, celebrations take to the waterways as well. Stunning decorated boats sail along the coast on days of celebration, while up in Parque Nações of Lisbon, the celebration is a bit more similar to those in Brazil. Perhaps the biggest Carnaval celebration in the region sees three days of parades with a unique theme.
This is what happened in Loulé, where in 2024, a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals theme was put into play. As this alone would let you know, it’s all about having fun and a good sense of humor. There were plenty of poignant satirical features on the floats and among the extras, making for an iconic event.
November 1
One of the most visually iconic festivals in the world is Día de Muertos or Day of the Dead. The decorated skulls, candles, and array of colors make for a very memorable occasion. It’s why even the Slingo slots have their own rendition have their own rendition with Slingo Day of the Dab. The scenes that come to mind are predominantly from Mexican occasions.
Portugal also used to celebrate the Day of the Dead on November 2, but that was phased out in favor of November 1 and All Saints’ Day. Rather than decorating skulls to remember those who have passed on, Bread for God was the tradition taken up.
As Portugal Insider details, the activity is similar to Trick or Treat, and in some parts, Halloween has become a more celebrated occasion than All Saints’ Day. Still, there’s also the communal side more akin to Diá de Muertos, with people decorating homes and gathering to enjoy dried figs, nuts, honey, and sweet bread.
If you’re looking to enjoy some world-renowned festivities Algarve-style, make your way down at the beginning of November or March to experience Carnaval and the celebrations around All Saints’ Day.
