Portugal January calendar of events.

January 6

Funchal - Madeira Island

Dia de Reis e Encerramento das Festas de Fim do Ano (Epiphany and the Closing of the Year End Festivities)

January 20

Santa Maria da Feira (North of Portugal)

Festa das Fogaceiras

January 21– 25

BTL – Bolsa de Turismo de Lisboa (LisboaLisbon travel fair)

Location: Parque das Nacoes

Other January Events

Faro, Luz de Tavira, Tavira, Loule, Moncarapacho and Olhao (Algarve region)

Charolas“Charolas” are groups that form spontaneously and get together to sing about religious or secular themes. They are found a bit all over the Algarve. There are Charolas get-togethers and competitions that represent and maintain the various forms of the traditional Charolas songs of this region.

Querenca (Algarve region)– Festa das Chouricas (sausages)

This traditional festival is in honor of St. Luis, the patron saint of animals, and is commonly known as the “Festa das Chouricas” (Smoked Pork Sausages Festival). In keeping with a secular tradition, all the people of the village, many of who work in agriculture and depend on pork for their nourishment, make a promise to St. Luis when they are buying a pig that if the animal has a healthy life then they in return will offer the saint a “chourica”. It is these “chouricas” that are auctioned off during the festival. This event also includes a procession and a roasted “chourica” tasting.