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December 23, 2022

Christmas time in Portugal

The end of the year is time to look back on what has been accomplished, get together with family and friends, and look forward to what the new year brings.

In Portugal, as in most of the world, Christmas is one of the most important holidays of the year. And this year, there’s a lot for the country to celebrate. After two difficult years, the economy has held up very well and the GDP has grown overall in 2022. It also got a 95 out 100 score in Freedom House’s freedom of the world yearly report. Things are looking positive, and the forecast for the next few years is equally optimistic.

At Immerso, 2022 has also been an important year. Our Ode Winery and Ode Farm & Living have been working at full speed. Our farmland is all set to begin construction of a luxury resort. At the vineyards, our 12 different grape varieties have been through harvest and are now resting quietly so that in 2023 Ode wines will hit restaurants and wine bars around the world.

The team at Immerso will be joyfully celebrating the holidays with some great Ode wines and the best of Portuguese typical Christmas food.

In Portugal, the main event of Christmas is the “consoada”, the Christmas supper, on the night of the 24th. It’s tradition to eat some bacalhau (cod fish), or in some parts of the country, octopus as the main dish for the meal, which is followed by the exchanging of gifts at midnight. And for dessert, the sweet treat of Rabanadas sometimes known as a Portuguese version of French toast, made with slices of a white bread soaked in milk, then eggs, and fried in oil to give them a delicious golden crust before being sprinkled with some cinnamon sugar.

While it doesn’t snow in most of Portugal, the country is taken by the holiday spirit, lights are hung all around the cities, along with decorations and trees. The chilly weather always guarantees a high turnaround of tourists from colder places around Portugal at this time of the year. Many of the cities’ squares are taken over by Christmas Markets, with the smell of mulled wine and pão com chouriço filling up the air.

The joyful season goes up until January 6th, the Three Kings Day, when the decorations are taken down. This day originated the most typical Christmas treat from Portugal, the Bolo Rei (king cake), a cake with bread consistency, filled with dried fruit, nuts and topped with candied fruit and icing sugar.

So, at this time of festivities, let us all celebrate and be merry in good company and be thankful for the good things the past year has brought.

Have a merry Christmas, and may 2023 be even better.