|
Portugal and Spain to English or American people, normally, seems much of the same. But, since very early, visitors have said
There are no mountains separating Portugal and Spain, similar and continuous countryside but there is a cultural abyss
between the two countries. Portuguese nationality is made of antonym towards Spain, the eternal rival of Portugal, even
tough they are based on the same Latin culture.
art
literature and authors
Portugal is sometimes known as "a country of poets". In fact, Portuguese poetry has a bigger influence in the country's
literature than prose. In the dawn of nationality, poetry in Portuguese-Galician was widely popular in all the Iberian Peninsula. There are excelent works, in
lyrical as in epic poetry. Without a doubt, the most worldwide known Portuguese poets are Luis de Camões and Fernando Pessoa, but we
should also state the modern Portuguese poetry (since the 19th century) has
its roots in a handfull of relevant poets, from neo-classicism to these days.
Prose developed later than verse and first appeared in the 14th century
in the shape of short chronicles, lives of saints, and genealogical treatises. The line of the chroniclers which is one of the
boasts of Portuguese literature began with Fernão Lopes, who compiled the chronicles of the reigns of three kings of that time. He combined a passion for
accurate statement with a especial talent for descriptive writing and portraiture. But, it is the modern Portuguese literature
that is more internationally known, especially the works of Eça de
Queirós and the 1998 Nobel Prize for literature, José
Saramago.
theatre
film and television
- Manoel de
Oliveira
- Maria de
Medeiros
- joaquim de
Almeida
music
main article: Music of Portugal
Fado (destiny in Portuguese) is a form of melancholic music. The music is
linked to the Portuguese word saudade (there is no translation into English; it's a word for the mix feeling of sadness,
pain, miss and love), and its origins are probably with a mixture of African slave rhythms with traditional music of Portuguese
sailors. There are two varieties of Fado: Lisbon and Coimbra. The Lisbon style is the traditional (for the people), while the Coimbra's is the refined style (linked
with universitary students); both are seen as ethnic music for sophisticated audience and as candidates for UNESCO World Heritage. The notable Amália Rodrigues introduced the most well-known variety of fado. After her disappearance, a new wave of
performers added stylistic changes and brought more international popularity to the traditional Portuguese music. Mísia and Mariza, brought with them a new look to the traditional song, while Dulce Pontes mixed it with popular
Portuguese music and Madredeus, made a
complete revolution, with new instruments -- all that they kept from the original Fado is its looks and the concept of "saudade".
Not all varieties of Fado are sorrowful; some can be joyful songs. Morna (or Cape Verdian Fado), in which Cesária Évora sings, is a variety of Fado originated from the Portuguese
Fado. It also keeps the concept of "saudade", but it is song in Portuguese Creole.
Other genres include a local version of hip hop, influenced by the American style
by descendants of immigrants from former Portuguese colonies in Africa. Hip hop tuga (Portuguese hip hop) is very
popular among the younger population in Portugal. Cool Hipnoise, Da
Weasel and Mind da Gap are some
of the most popular and are becoming internationally known. Other musicians include the globally recognized pianist Maria João Pires.
Dances
As for dancing, Portugal has the traditional folklore (Ranchos
Folclóricos), with many varieties from each region. Portugal with Angola has a shared rhythm known as "Kuduro" (popular in
both countries), a sort of 'hard samba' with fast movements and extreme sensuality and strong African rhythm, performed mainly by
Angolans or Angolan descents. This mixture of Portuguese and Angolan influence has also created the Brazilian Samba (popular in Portugal) and the Angolan Kizomba(Angolan samba, less Popular in Portugal),
which have softer movements.
food
Eating in Portugal, is one of the visitor's most remembered characteristics of the country, as it is a delicious mixture of
what Portugal found in its discoveries throughout the world. Each region of Portugal, has its traditional dishes, including
various kinds of meat, cheap sea-food, diverse and fresh fish (including the 365 ways of cod
dishes, the national dish).
Portuguese wines
Portugal is the country for wine lovers, known since the Roman Empire as one of the greatest in the empire; the Romans immediately associated Portugal with its
God of Winery and Feast, Bacchus. Today, many famous Portuguese wines are known as
some of the world's best: Vinho
do Douro, Vinho do
Alentejo, Vinho do Dão,
Vinho Verde, and the sweet: Port
Wine, Madeira wine, Moscatel of Setúbal and Moscatel of Favaios.
Portuguese stereotypes
see also: Desenrascanço
See Also
|