Figure 1.--This photo shows a group of Portuguese boys playing soccer in northern region of the country during the late-1950s. At the time in Portugal most children from low-income families went barefoot. These children may have worn shoes in everyday life. But none are wasting footwear to play soccer. Before World War II, poor children were less likely to play sports.

We have very limited information on Portuguese boys' activities at this time. Many activities were probably very similar to other European countries, especially neighboring Spain. One factor that made growing up in Portugal different than other countries was the endemic poverty in the country dating back to the time Portugl changed from being a European leader to its decline as the Inquisition and intolerance became firmly entrenched in national life. Portugal is a Catholic country and thus religious ceremonies like First Communion and serving as altar boys were of some importance. A factor in Portugal was the relstive poverty of the country. This impeded the ability of Portuguese children to participate in activities enjoyed by children in more affluent European countries. We do have some information on Poruguese schools. We know little about Portuguese choirs. Nor do we have much information on holiday celebrations in Portugal. We have some information on Christmas. Portugal is one of the poorer countries in Europe, although conditions have improved since the country entered the European Union. The country was primarily agricultural and children traditionally worked on farms. Boys might also work as shepherds. Sport has become more popular as economic condir\tions improved. Soccer is by far the principal sport. Portufal i a small country with avery long Atlantic coast and some beautiful beaches. We are not sure when they became a tourist attraction. but we see tourists there, including foreign tourists, at the turn-of-the 20th centyry. We also notice youth groups, including a nationlist group during the World War II era.

Poverty

We have very limited information on Portuguese boys' activities at this time. Many activities were probably very similar to other European countries, especially neighboring Spain. One factor that made growing up in Portugal different than other countries was the endemic poverty in the country dating back to the time Portugl changed from being a European leader to its decline as the Inquisition and intolerance became firmly entrenched in national life. Portugal's succes at the onset of the Eyropean maritime outreach was due to a combination of gography and technological innovation. Geography meaning an Atlantic coast and a promimity to the America and coast of Africa did not change. Technology did change. Portugal's closed Catholic di=ominated society did not encourage technological innovation. As a result, small Portugal and even larger Spain could not keep up with the rapidly innovating countries of northern Europe. s a result bith Portugal and Spain even with huge empires declined into poverty which was the case into the 20th century. The povery of Portugal was an importnt factor in boys' activities and the general childhood experience in Portugal. This impeded the ability of Portuguese children to participate in activities enjoyed by children in more affluent European countries. It mean that rather than school and ply, many Portuguese children had to work.

Beach Resorts

Portugal is a small country with a very long Atlantic coast and some beautiful beaches. There are beach resorts all along the Portuhuese coat. We are not sure when they became a tourist attraction. but we see tourists there, including foreign tourists, at the turn-of-the 20th century. This was mostly well-to-do people. Large numbersof middle-clastorists do not come until after Wrld War II. British tourists were some of the girst to come to Portugal im numbers begonning in the 1960s. Most visitors to Portugal from an early point go to Algarve, and commonly they don't leave their resorts to explore the country. The Algarve means, 'the west' and is derived from arabic showing the coutry's medieval Muslim history. 'The west' means the west of the Iberuan peninsula. But the Algarve is the far southern region of Portugl, just west of Gibraltar. The region has as its administrative center in the city of Faro. Tourism and related activities are extensive and make up the bulk of the Algarve's summer economy. The Algarve is the most popular tourist destination in Portugal, and one of the most popular in beach resort areas in Europe. Some 10 million people visit the Algarve annually, more than half foreign tourists. There are beautiful beaches to the north, but the Algarve is the most popular area.

Camps

We have not been able to dind much historical information about Portuguese summer camps. The summer camp movement began in America and Germany in the late-19th century. It was first for well-to-do children. Gradually groups like the YMCA developed programs for low-income city kids to get them out in the fresh air and sunshine. Few countries have moire fresh air and sunshine than Portugal as well as a long Atlantiv coast. Portugal was, however, a very poor country and we have not found any informatiion about summer camps until fairly recent times. The Portuguese Boy Scout Movement was relatively small and we know know of no summer camps. Portugal during the inter-war years developed a quasi-Fascist Government. One element of Fascism was attention to youth which led to large youth movements and summer camps. Germany already had many bsummer camps, although the NAZIs expanded the camp system. Musolini's Fascists basically created a large summer camp program. A nationalist youth group--the Mocidade Portuguesa (Portuguese Youth) was not formed until much later than most of the other Fascist youth movements (1936). It does not seem to have been a major effort. And we do not see a major summer camp effort like Germany nand Italy, but our information is very limited. We do see summer camps after World War II, although we still do mot have much information. The situation is very different toiday. We see all kinds of simmervcamps operaying in Portugal. Notably manyarevfor foreign youth to engage in various pograms in Portugal during the summer.

Choirs

We know little about Portuguese choirs. There must have been choirs during the medieval era. We have, however, found no information about any choirs in Portugal today. Portugal is culturally closely linked to Spain. We have noticed a few Spanish choirs.

Holidays

Portugal has a substantial mumber of national and local holidays. It temporarily revoked four out of concern over productivity. Many of the national holidays are religious holidays. The main religion is the Roman Catholicism. The country since medeval times has been strongly influenced by the Catholic Church. The First Republic (1910-26) launched anti-clerical policies. Despite the fact that the country has become highly secularized like the rest of Westen Europe, religious celebration tend to dominate the holidays celebtated. January 1: New Year's Day (Ano Novo). Variable: Carnival (Carnaval). This annual festival that ends on Shrove Tuesday (called Fat Tuesday in Madeira - Terça-feira Gorda in Portuguese). The day before Ash Wednesday (first day of Lent). This is an optional holiday, although it is usually observed. 47 days before Easter Sunday. Variable: Good Friday (Sexta-feira Santa). Friday before Easter Sunday. Variable: Easter (Domingo de Páscoa). Portugal has several religious holidays. Easter is one of the most important. Children after the Ressurection Mass (Easter) go throughout the streets ringing little bells. April 25: Freedom Day (Dia da Liberdade). This holiday celebrates the left-wing military 1974 coup d'état that ended the Estado Novo government established by long ruling dictator António de Oliveira Salazar (1932-68). The military leaders hen established the Portuguese Third Republic. May 1: Labor Day (Dia do Trabalhador). Portuguese Labor Day is a May Day celebration entirely oriented toward sicalist/communist demonstrations. MNone of the soruingrituals we see in some other countries. Variable: Corpus Christi Feast (Corpo de Deus). It is held on a Thursday with varying dates, 60 days after Easter Sunday. It is a religion holiday. June 1: Azores Day (Dia dos Açores). It is only celebrated in the Azores, an Atlantic oceanic archepelago.. June 10: Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas). This is Portugal's National Day. July 1: Madeira Day (Dia da Madeira). Only celebrated in Madeira another archepelago. This one in the Mediterranean. August 15: Assumption (Assunção de Nossa Senhora). This is another religious holiday. It is based on the Biblical account Mary's assent to heaven. October 5: Republic Day (Implantação da República). This is a celebration of the end of Monarchy and the beginning of the Portuguese Republic. November 1: All Saints Day (Dia de Todos-os-Santos). Another religious holiday. It celecrates the Catholic saints who have ahieved the beatific vision in heaven. December 1: Restoration of Independence (Restauração da Independência). This holiday celebrates the end of the Philippine Dynasty (1580–1640) and the end of Spanish domination. December 8: Immaculate Conception (Imaculada Conceição): Celebrating the Roman Catholic belief that the conception of the Virgin Mary without any stain of original sin. December 25: Christmas Day (Natal). This is Portuguese Christmas anotger important reigious holiday, now with mny secular trapings and a real favorite with children. Christmas is celebrated in much the same way in Portugal as it is in Spain. The Portugese enjoy an additional feast--consoada. They eat in the early morning hours of Christmas Day. They set extra places at the table for the souls of the dead--alminhas a penar. The tradition is to give a gift of food to the family members that have passed away hope that this will ensure good fortunes in the New Year. In some areas crumbs are left on the hearth for these souls, a custom that dreives from the ancient practice of entrusting the seeds to the dead in hopes that they will provide a bountiful harvest. They place a Christmas log on the hearth--or cepo de Natal. Traditionally it is an oak log which burns through the day as the family enjoys a leasurly consoda. Portuguese children look forward to the Three Wise Men to being their Christmas gifts. The children put the shoes near the fireplace rather like American children hang their stockings. December 26: Boxing Day (Segunda Oitava). Segunda Oitava means second octave. We are not sure about its origins. It is part of Madeira's centuries old Christmas celebrations which has been recognized as bank holiday by the Regional Government of Madeira. Europe went through a major economic crisis centere in the socialist-riented countries on the southern perifery which were going bankrupt (2011-14). Greece was the poster child for the crisis, but Portugal was one of the countries in the worst shape and with a weak economy. Europe eventually bailed them out without solving the fundamental problems of over spending and failure to promote capitalism. To qualify for the bailout, Portugal had to agree to austerity measures, some of which was crafted by each country. The Coalition government of Pedro Passos Coelho revoked four holidays (2012). There were two cancelled civilian holidays (Republic Day and Restoration of Independence) and two religious holidays (Corpus Christi and All Saints Day). The cancellation went into effect (2013). The idea was to incease productivity as part of the 2011–14 Troika bailout to Portugal. The holiday measure was not requested by the Memorandum of Understanding. The idea was to reconsider the holiday measure, esoecually the religious holiday in 2018. The António Costa Govrnment reponding to public opinion did not wait until 2018. They restored all four of the holidays (2016).

Religion

The primary religion in Portugal is Roman Catholic Christianity. This has been the case the Chrstianization of the Roman Empire (4th century AD). Small numbers of Jews settled in what is now Portugal presumably during the Roman era, but actual historical references only date bavk to the Muslim era. The Muslim invasion (8th cntury) meant that Islam appeared in Portugal. There was considerable tolerance and inter-marriage during the Muslim era. Portugal was one of the first Christian kingdoms to develop as part of the Reconquista. There was at first an impressive degree of religious tolerance which slowly declined as the Reconquista progressed. After the fall of Granada to Spanish forces, both Jews and Muslims were expelled (1492). The Inquistion attempte to purify Portugal of Jewish and Muslim influences. The impact on Portugal was stultifying going far beyond the small Jewish and slim poplation. Portugal and Spain which had led the European maritime outreach (15th century) as well as the conquest and Christinization of the New World. The Inquisition, however, turned Portugal and Spain into European backwaters. The Church and monarchy worked together to create a very conservative, closed society. A chrch faces a government building across virtally every town and village main square, a power structure repeated in Brazil. Portugal like Spain was largely unaffected by both the Protestant Reformation (16th century) and the Enlightenment (18th century). Portugal began to change (20th century). The church and state were officially separated during the First Republic (1910-26). The Roman Catholic influence cultural influence is still pronounced. Portuguese festivals, holidays and traditions have a strong Catholic imprint. Most Portuguese today are Roman Catholics at least culturally. As in most of Europe, there has been a general de-Christianization of society. Sopme 85 percent of Portuguese identify as being Romn Catholicm although relatively few even irreglarly attend church. They still want to be baptised and get married in church. And many Portuguese children have First Communion celebrations. Boys and now girls assist priests as altar servers during the mass. There are some regional differences. Church attendance is much more common in the north than in the south.

Schools

Education in Portugal was for years dominated or perhaps better explained, limited by the Roman Catholic church and the conservsative monarchy. Portugal led the European outreach in the the 15th century, but gradually was overwealmed by larger and more powerful maritime states. The Catholic Church and Inquisition prevented the Protestant Reformation from reaching Portugal. Portugal became a backwater of Europe. This also meant that there was not real consideration pf public education until the 19th century and only limited steps even in the eatrly 20th century. The Church for centuries kept a time reign on education. Portugal did not begin to build a modern education system until the Carnation Socialist Revolution (1975). We do not know a great deal about Portuguese schoolwear, but since the 19th century, many children wore smocks.

Sport

Sport has become more popular as economic conditions have improved. Soccer is by far the principal sport.

Toys

We do not yet have much infomation on Portuguese toys. As far as we can tell the popular toys in Portugal were the same as in neighboring Spain and France. Our information, however, is very limited. and we can not yet idenify what Portuguese children were playing with before World War II. We do not yet know of destinctive Portuguese toys. Girls of course like dolls. And because Portugal as such a poor country, a tradition of fixing broken dolls developed. One source reports on hospitals for dolls. "Lisbon's Hospital de Bonecas, or Doll Hospital, was founded in 1830. It's the oldest known facility of its kind, where seamstresses and handymen fix broken limbs and sew worn clothes on children's dolls. The facility is housed in an 18th-century row house off one of Lisbon's main cobblestone squares. Since the early 19th century, the Hospital de Bonecas has been performing surgery on children's beloved companions — their dolls. It's the oldest known facility of its kind, where seamstresses and handymen fix broken limbs and sew torn clothes on children's dolls. The current owner, Cutileira, used to be a teacher and took over the hospital from her parents when she retired." [Frayer] The best look at Portuguese toys van be found at the Portuguese Toy Museum in Ponte de Lima which has a collection of about 2,000 toys from the massive collection of Carlos Anjos. They include toys from the early 19th century to 1986, the date Portugal joined the European Community. Therea are tops, papier-mâché dolls, tin soldiers, trains, almost all nationally made. There are also rattles to pedal cars. Eventiall plastics and PVC dolls appear. A zinc train tells the story of some of the most important national toy manufacturers. Pieces arranged in chronological order, illustrate the socio-political transformations in Portugal. After World War II, Europe began to integrate and we begin to see pan-European fashions and cultures develop. An important factor affecting toys as the overall economy. Portugal in modern times was the poorest country in Western Europe and suffering from endemic poverty. This mean that many Portuguese parents could not afford to buy toys for their children. Some parents provided home-made toys. We have no information on Portuguese toys. We suspect what was not imprted was produced by arisianl craftsmen and were largely wooden or pottery items, but we also see cork being used, a material often associated with Portugal. We note one roy manufacturer--Majora. It was established in 1939.

Work

Portugal is one of the poorer countries in Europe, although conditions have improved since the country entered the European Union. The country was primarily agricultural and children traditionally worked on farms. Boys might also work as shepherds.

Youth Groups

We have very limited information on Portuguese youth groups. The only uniformed group we know that is currently active at this time is the Scouts. The Scouts are known as the Grupo Escoteiros de Portugal. Strangely the Portuguese colony of Macau off China was the home for the first Portuguese Boy Scout Group. The group was founded in 1911. The Macau Scout Leaders came back to Portugal and founded the Associação de Escoteiros de Portugal (Boy Scouts Association of Portugal) in 1913. We believe Portugal had a relatively small Scout movement, in part because Portugal was such a poor country during the era that Scouting was especially popular in Europe. We also note a group called the Acção Jovem para a Paz/Youth Action for Peace (AJP) is a National Youth Organization, a Non-Governmental Organization for Development and a branch (member) of the International Movement Youth Action for Peace (YAP). This association was founded in Portugal in the early 1970s. Boy Scouts

Sources

Frayer, Lauren. "A Portuhuese tradition of 'healing' colls for Christmas," NPR (Secember 24, 2013.

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Created: 1:26 AM 9/22/2011
Last updated: 1:13 PM 10/21/2019