Traditional Areas in Portugal

When asked about the traditional areas in Portugal I was a little confused as to what "traditional areas" were.  Since I have Portuguese blood in my viens, I went to my grandma for a little help along with the Internet.  Now doing a little bit of research, I found out that most of the traditional areas found in Portugal are related to some sort of celebration or "festa".  These celebrations are then tied back to religious ties which date back to the history of the country.  Most of these traditional areas can be found on the set of islands called the Azores.  These celebrations are quite popular, at least it seems like, because I know and hear from people that go back to the country just for those reasons alone.  My mom's side of the family is from the Azores and routinely go back to take part in the celebrations and go to the "traditional areas" in which they are held.

Festa do Senhor Cristo dos Milagres

Ill just explain just a few of the places where they celebrate these events.  Now these events usually occur in an entire city or in a "praia" or sort of a town square.  In Sao Miguel, the largest of the celebrations happens in the city of Ponta Delgada and is called Festa do Senhor Cristo dos Milagres or festival of the Christ of Miracles.  In Santa Maria, the most popular of the festivities take place in the Praia Formosa.  The largest festival on that island takes place in Vila do Porto which commerates the its patron saint, Our Lady of Assention.  Finally, where my family is from Terceira, the festival of Saint John takes place.  The festivities are based in the city of Angra do Heroisimo.  The Danças de Carnival are groups of people who perform in comedy and dance routines at the thirty theatres on the island.  Almost the entire population of the island fills the seating. When my extended family goes to Portugal they usually go for this event.  If you wanna read more about the celebrations and where they are at in the mainland of portugal you can go to this website : More on Portugues Celebrations & Locations

It's really hard to tell if the media has really changed them because they like to stay traditional in their practices of the celebrations and don't really change the areas in which they hold them. With RTP broadcasting them here in the United States and elsewhere, I would assume that the traditions have become more of a "show" rather than a mere celebration.  They want to show the world how they celebrate and make sure it looks good when they do it.  Some of the tradtions may have been lost with the upcoming media and with the Internet more people know about them and want to see them for themselves.  It's really hard to say because the areas in which they call traditional aren't well known throughout the world, so many people don't know about them.  An example would be Carnival in Brazil, people want to know about it because it's famous and well known, areas in Portugal and the Azores aren't well known for people to want to know about them.

COOL FACT:  In the Azores, bullfighting in the street is a pretty big thing, where the whole city gathers to watch the bull in the street.  Most are now in an arena because of the dangers that they pose.  Many question if its cruelty or entertainment but they have been doing this forever.  Media has changed this aspect of their society greatly.  With all the media exposure people are more reluctant to record it and boast about it because of the backlashes it has.  Everybody knows how in Mexico and Spain they kill the bull but in Portugal they do not, that is why the media exposure to bullfights has kind of changed how people view them.  I say they have bullfights in Portugal and the first question I get is, "Do they kill the bull?"  Bullfights have transcended here to the United States as well.  The city I live in has a Portuguese Hall and will have a couple of bullfights a year.  One year the media got wind of it and actually made it on the evening news.
Many of the Portuguese traditions have impacted the lives of Portuguese people here in California and all over the United States.  Here is the website for the Artesia D.E.S. Portuguese Hall if you want to find out when the next bullfight is if you'd like to attend.  Artesia DES Portuguese Hall