Latest news and stories about cultural identity in Portugal for expats and residents.
A discussion sparked by a Bad Bunny concert exposed the clash of perceptions between Portugal and Brazil regarding the meaning of being 'Latino'. In 'Português Suave', linguist Marco Neves explains how the European concept contrasts with the Brazilian one.
A reflection on the significance of Fátima in Portuguese religious identity and the need to ground popular faith in the Gospel.
The agreement aims to expand facilities and affirm the cultural identity of the Barreiro Business Park territory, as part of the Arco Ribeirinho Sul Project and the Tejo Cities Park.
Half a century after the 1976 Constitution, Portugal celebrates its National Day while reflecting on the complex transition from the Salazar dictatorship. Once branded a 'radioactive fossil' of the fascist regime and the 'Day of the Race,' the holiday was nearly abolished after the 1974 revolution. This article explores how political leaders, including Mário Soares and António Ramalho Eanes, successfully 'decolonized' the date by shifting its focus from colonial ideology to the Portuguese diaspora, ultimately rebranding it as the 'Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities.'
Portugal is, among many other things, an idea of Man, which results from Athens, Rome, Jerusalem, Paris, London, Washington, Guimarães, and Lisbon. It should not apologise for its tradition.
Seguro underlines the role of the Portuguese language as an element of unity during his visit to Luxembourg on the occasion of June 10th.
A country that gave its name to a global language does not have the right to disappear from the conversation about its future, nor to turn a deaf ear.
The head of the Centro de Portugal tourism board highlights the country's human-centric approach as its key differentiator.
At a festival held in Rio de Janeiro, José Eduardo Agualusa stated that the term “Portuguese language” no longer reflects the plural and decolonised reality of the language, which should instead be called “General Language,” an expression of “a territory of encounters and affections.”
A recent article in The Sunday Times by critic Rachel Johnson, who described Portugal's national dishes bacalhau and caldo verde as 'disgusting', has sparked a strong reaction. The author defends Portuguese cuisine, highlighting the variety and comfort of these traditional foods, while suggesting that Johnson's negative experience may have been influenced by travel frustrations, such as airport delays and a minor dog bite, rather than the quality of the food itself.
A country that has already conquered oceans… but still hesitates to conquer itself
The term “ethnic restaurant” was the way found at the end of the 20th century for US journalists and critics to refer to restaurants from immigrant communities, highlighting their exoticism without falling into the trap of “race”. From this perspective, Ricardo Felner outlines how food from countries like China, India, or Cape Verde is viewed as “ethnic”, while “European” food almost never is.
The persistence of the national soul, resilient even after decades of secularisation, moral relativism, and spiritual impoverishment.
Reflecting on World Portuguese Language Day, the author explores the global reach of the language, from Timor-Leste to Japan and beyond. The article highlights the role of Portuguese as a tool for national identity, international diplomacy, and cultural connection, while paying tribute to historical figures like Camões and contemporary writers who enrich the language's global presence.
Alberto Gonçalves comments on the celebrations of International Portuguese Language Day.
The growing subordination to English must be halted in the name of defending Portuguese. Tomorrow is World Portuguese Language Day, and it is timely to take legislative measures to put an end to these abuses. Opinion by Jorge Bacelar Gouveia
Grada Kilomba discusses how Portugal's refusal to confront its historical past perpetuates cycles of violence.
We say that we were colonised by the Moors, but we forget that the aforementioned Moors were African. A chronicle by Miguel Esteves Cardoso.
António Ferro, a figure inextricably linked to Salazar as the chief propagandist of the Estado Novo for nearly two decades, is the subject of a new six-part narrative podcast from Diário de Notícias. Through the perspectives of historians, political scientists, and his granddaughter, novelist Rita Ferro, the series explores his complex legacy—from his modernist roots and involvement with the Orpheu magazine to his role in shaping Portuguese cultural identity, including the popularization of the Barcelos rooster. The podcast, narrated by Nuno Braga, examines the life of a man who was a journalist, diplomat, and cultural architect, leaving an indelible mark on 20th-century Portugal.
The Constitution of the Portuguese Republic now has a version in the Mirandese language. Associations describe it as a “deeply cultural gesture” to bring speakers closer to their fundamental law.
By gathering recipes, as well as customs and traditions, gastronomic charters serve as a vehicle for preserving cultural identity at the table. In Portugal, the oldest is the Alentejo charter, and the next one will be the Saloia.
Today, historians separate fact from propaganda and study the myth as a cultural phenomenon. The miracle of Ourique is not a lie, it is an identity narrative.
In this episode of 'Assim Vamos Ter de Falar de Outra Maneira' about collective memory and historical trauma, Miguel Góis, José Diogo Quintela, and Ricardo Araújo Pereira reflect on very ugly words that should not be said and recall the work of Avô Cantigas. At the end, they revisit a sketch about a man whose son is a gem of a boy.
The Portuguese Football Federation has unveiled a new communication strategy for the National Team's participation in the 2026 World Cup, based on the slogan “Vai Dar Portugal” (It Will Be Portugal/Portugal Will Succeed). This campaign aims to represent not only support for the team but also the country's collective identity and its global positioning through football. The initiative seeks to frame the team as a cultural and emotional symbol of the nation, focusing on Portuguese values and the connection between fans and players. As part of this, an audiovisual project featuring the tugboat “Esperança” was launched, serving as a metaphor for resilience, with a concluding chapter expected in June 2026. The federation also aims to promote Portuguese culture to international audiences. On the sporting front, the team is beginning a series of preparation matches, starting with a game against Mexico at the historic Estadio Azteca, followed by a match against the United States in Atlanta on March 31st. Roberto Martinez anticipates a challenging test at the Azteca, noting that the 2026 World Cup will be one of the most complex ever.
CA Vida, part of the Crédito Agrícola group, celebrates its latest distinctions in the “5 Star Award 2026” and the BECX Award 2025 through a multimedia campaign titled “In Good Portuguese”. This transforms the celebration of a corporate award into a celebration of the culture and popular language that unites Portugal, from north to south.
The difficulty of defining 'doing good' places us between ethical dilemmas and contemporary life. What saves us? The sense of giving and the Portuguese language. Opinion by José Luís Landeira
The values we consider central today, such as religious freedom, pluralism, and human dignity, are not automatic inheritances of history, but hard-learned moral achievements.
Marco Martins challenges societal barriers in his performance of “An Enemy of the People,” highlighting the immigrant experience.
