Inside Portugal

Welcome to our new, streamlined edition of Inside Portugal. You'll still find the secrets and tastes of Portugal here, but click through to our news blog, Inside Portugal Travel, for the latest news and travel deals.

http://www.insideportugaltravel.com <http://www.insideportugaltravel.com/> .

 

How will you welcome the New Year? From now until the end of January, the Portuguese will be celebrating in song. Groups of friends or neighbors will go from house to house to sing, and when their singing is done, they are rewarded with chestnuts, nuts, apples, cured sausages, and chocolates.  This tradition is named Janeiras, for Janus, the ancient god of the entryway to heaven. The singing tradition likely stems from Roman times, when they would summon Janus to ward off evil spirits for the new year.

 

We've got some lyrics from a Janeiras below, but click through to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68kfaXSNwVk&feature=related <http://wwwyoutube.com/watch?v=68kfaXSNwVk&amp;feature=related>

to hear the sounds of the streets of Portugal in January.

 

Lastly, with 2008 Portugal has a new marketing approach: Europe's West Coast With famed wine regions, colorful suspension bridges and a mild climate, Portugal truly is the Western most point in Europe. It is ideal place for investment, creativity and relaxation. 

 

Bom ano novo - Happy New Year!

 

1. THIS MONTH'S SECRET: The Founder

Few nations can claim to be founded by the courage and vision of just one person. Even ancient Rome had Romulus and Remus...but as to Europe's oldest nation-state, Portugal, it owes its existence to the stubbornness, perseverance and skill of one man:  Dom Afonso Henriques.

 

We would love to share the entire story of this warrior-king with you, but that wouldn't leave us any room to talk about travel. Click through to this biography, and you'll get the big picture on this larger-than-life character. http://www.vidaslusofonas.pt/afonso_henriques2.htm <http://www.vidaslusofonas.pt/afonso_henriques2.htm>

 

We can, however, take a look at three key travel spots in Portugal where this man's spirit still reigns:

 

+Guimarães

This northern city is a living museum that calls itself the "cradle of Portugal." While D. Afonso Henriques was most likely born at Coimbra (see below) in 1109, he grew up in the granite castle here, and was probably baptized in the Romanesque chapel on its grounds. Here he rebelled against his mother when his father, the Count of Portucale, died and she tried to keep power from her son. Medieval Guimarães is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its narrow streets with stone pavement worn from years of use make it a very popular stop for visitors.  The city is the only one in Portugal with two pousadas. Now that says something!

 

+Coimbra

This city of learning was Dom Afonso Henriques' new capital, built facing south, towards the Moors who had held most of the Iberian Peninsula since 711. Here Afonso built a small army and then plunged south, defeating the Moors' superior forces. Here, too, the great warrior was born and died in 1185. In the Santa Cruz abbey, his face is rendered in stone on his gothic tomb. His long beard flows over his armor, his sword and helmet at his side, ready to defend his new land. His hands are raised in prayer while a lion sits at his feet.

 

+Castro Verde

Legend says that in 1139, not far from Castro Verde on the field of Ourique, Afonso Henriques and his men faced the combined armies of five Moorish princes. Some say that Christ spoke to Afonso, telling him not to fear. He would win a great victory and his nation would grow to see the world.  Afonso did win the battle and he was declared king. Portugal was born. In Castro Verde today, the Royal Basilica honors this victorious day and the Battle of Ourique with a series of 17th Century hand-painted tiles.

 

Yes, Afonso then captured Lisbon, fortified the Tejo River Valley and, within 80 years of his death, the last Moorish stronghold fell to the Portuguese. Portugal then became the first country in Europe to take on its modern borders.

 

The history of Dom Afonso Henriques spans nine centuries.  No wonder he is celebrated in verse, such as the one below.

 

2. NEWS, EVENTS & DEALS - Visit our blog, Inside Portugal Travel

We are constantly updating the news from Portugal, coming events, and special travel deals on our blog, Inside Portugal Travel.

http://www.insideportugaltravel.com <http://www.insideportugaltravel.com/>

 

Go there and see what's new. Better yet, follow this link and you can have the news come to you:



http://www.feedblitz.com/f/?Sub=267118 <http://www.feedblitz.com/f/?Sub=267118>



By subscribing, you'll receive a short weekly email featuring just the headlines from our blog, Inside Portugal Travel. You'll receive 10 story tips every Friday, and you can click through to get more detailed information on the ones you like. 

 

3 EATS: The king of cakes, the Bolo Rei

At this time of year in Portugal, the Bolo Rei, or King Cake, is king! Traditionally eaten on January 6, the day of Epiphany, this round cake is glazed with fruits, nuts and sugar.  Inside is a hidden fava bean, and whoever gets it in his or her serving must buy next year's Bolo Rei.  Here's the recipe for making your own:

 

750 grams flour, sifted (26.4 ounces)

30 grams bakers yeast (1 ounce)

150 grams butter or margarine (5.3 ounces)

150 grams sugar (5.3 ounces)

150 grams crystallized fruits (5.3 ounces)

150 grams dried fruits (5.3 ounces)

4 eggs

1 lemon

1 orange

1 dL Port Wine (about 3 ounces)

1 tsp sea salt

 

Soak crystallized and dried fruits in Port. Dissolve yeast in 1 ounce hot water and add 1 tsp of flour. Mix well and set in a warm place for 15 minutes.

 

Beat together the butter, sugar and zest from the lemon and orange. Add eggs one by one, stirring each thoroughly.  Add the yeast mixture and mix thoroughly.  Add the rest of the flour and salt.  Knead the dough thoroughly until soft. 

 

Add the soaked fruits and knead dough into a ball.  Sprinkle a bit of flour on the ball and place in a bowl draped in a towel. Set in a warm place and allow to rise for 5 hours.

 

When the dough has doubled in volume, form it into a ball.  Punch a hole in the middle of the dough and work it into a large donut shape. Let it rise, covered, for another hour.

 

Brush the dough with egg yolk and push remaining crystallized fruits, sugar cubes, whole pine nuts and other nuts into the outer dough. 

 

Bake in a high heat oven until golden.  After cooking, brush the entire bread with a mixture of gelatin and water.

 

Yummy!

 

4. VERSE 1+2: Janeiras and El Rei

 

The words and music of the Janeiras will vary from town to town, but here's a common version:

 

Let us sing the Janeiras

For the field in which we travel

The wind comes and luck changes

And snow falls in the hills,

And only memories remain of the old trails.

 

Fernando Pessoa was a quiet man who wrote under many names. He produced some of the most powerful and thought-provoking Portuguese poems of the 20th century. One of his final works, and one of the few published in his lifetime, was the Messagem, a look at the conflict between Portugal's past and future.  His poem from that work about Dom Afonso Henriques:

 

Father, you were a warrior

Today, the vigil is ours.

Give to us your entire example

With all your might!

 

Give us, at the time when, wrongly,

New infidels rise up,

A blessing as a sword,

A sword as a blessing!

 

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