Growing up in Fall River: An Interview with Thomas Silvia
Fall River, Massachusetts, has long been known as one of the most Portuguese towns in America. In this interview, we sit down with Tom, a lifelong Fall River resident with deep roots in the city’s Portuguese community. Born to second-generation immigrants, Tom shares his firsthand experiences of growing up in a family that held tight to their Azorean heritage while making a new life in America. From stories about his grandmother’s cooking to memories of life in the city’s tenements, …
Portuguese Music: 12 Singers & Bands Worth Listening to
Outside of Portugal, Portuguese music is relatively unknown and it can be difficult to know which singers and bands you should listen to. This list will get you started. It’s by no means exhaustive, but it covers artists and bands from a wide variety of genres including pop, hip hop, dance, heavy metal, and, of course, fado. Listening to Portuguese music is a good way to learn Portuguese as it’s spoken in Portugal. Ana Moura Ana Moura is a Portuguese …
Welcome to Fall River: The Most Portuguese Town in America
You might have heard of Little Portugal in London, the nickname for the large Portuguese community in the South Lambeth area of South London, but did you know there’s a very large Portuguese community in Massachusetts in the USA? Fall River, an industrial town that’s about 1 hour and 20 minutes south of Boston, is home to the largest concentration of Portuguese people in the whole of the United States. As of 2018, 46 percent of Fall River Residents claim …
What is Saudade?
Saudade is a Portuguese word that’s often described as untranslatable but, open a bottle of wine with a Portuguese friend and, they’ll happily try to explain it to you. The truth is that saudade can’t be translated into a singular English word, but that doesn’t mean we can’t explain it in a few English words. Well, more than a few considering the length of this blog post. It’s a little like German words. Torschlusspanik, for example, literally means “closing gate …
Olivenza: The Portuguese Town That’s in Spain
Drive over the bridge that crosses the Guadiana River, the river that separates Portugal and Spain, and you’ll be greeted with a sign welcoming you to Spain. Like the hundreds of other signs that are dotted along the Spanish border, it’s a blue sign with the word “España” surrounded by 12 gold stars: the EU symbol for unity, solidarity and harmony among the people of Europe. This sign is slightly different, though. In contrast to the symbolism the 12 stars …
24 Must-Read Books Set in Portugal
Portugal has been the setting for numerous captivating novels that bring its essence to life. These books, especially those written by Portuguese authors, offer an immersive experience into the country’s soul, perfect for those wishing to learn more about its unique culture. And, if you’re unable to visit Portugal in person, these books promise to transport you there, whether that’s to the streets of Lisbon, the beaches of the Algarve, or post World War I Madeira. The Year of The …