Algarve is a place that has so many festivals in any given month. May is one of those months that have multiple celebrations, maybe because it is a month that gives way to spring after the frigid winter days. Well, whether you are a native of Algarve or a tourist coming over for a short cheap holidays 2013, the first of May should be a good start for the month. In fact, the first day of the month itself is a festival for the people of the Algarve, a festival that they call Dia do Trabahaldor - Portuguese for Worker's Day. It is the day for all workers in the whole of Portugal.
This festival pays tribute to the labours toiled by the working class heroes of the country. These are people who do so much for their families just to ensure that they are provided for the needs each and every day. They deserve to be honoured, not only in Portugal but all around the world! Thus, the first of May is a big day of celebration for the Portuguese family, and the most festive place in the country is none other than the Algarve where May 1st is celebrated with a lot of fanfare and enjoyment!
One more reason why a Portuguese family would celebrate May first the way they do is because May has the clearest of weather, after the frequently overcast climate of winter. Thus, it is normal to find Portuguese families coming out in droves for the celebration of Labour Day as the weather is simply great!
My exposure to how Portuguese commemorate Labour Day was way back in 2006. The meeting had ended on April 30, and I was convinced by a Portuguese colleague to stay until May the 2nd. I had to see what Labour Day is in Portugal, this colleague of mine states. I readily agreed as I wasn't expected back at work until May 4th, anyway. I was curious if Labour Day in Portugal would be any different from how we commemorate Labour Day in our country. I also thought this was the case on May 1st, but I was pleasantly surprised when this colleague's family took me with for a picnic by the roadside for a PICNIC! The day was spent sitting down, talking and drinking bottles of wine, the first of which was opened immediately after the picnic was set up, by the way.
May 1st brings a lot of changes to the fields in Portugal. In ordinary days, several spots by the roadsides are virtually abandoned. On the first of May, these spots are suddenly teeming with families and groups of people enjoying a picnic under the Sun. The Portuguese like their celebrations simple, it seems, and instead they evidently prefer to spend that day with their loved ones with a quiet picnic under the warmth of the Sun. Aside from that, we were dealt to a parade by the local fire and police departments who came out in full force! "Now this is one great way to remember Labour Day!" I thought to myself.
This festival pays tribute to the labours toiled by the working class heroes of the country. These are people who do so much for their families just to ensure that they are provided for the needs each and every day. They deserve to be honoured, not only in Portugal but all around the world! Thus, the first of May is a big day of celebration for the Portuguese family, and the most festive place in the country is none other than the Algarve where May 1st is celebrated with a lot of fanfare and enjoyment!
One more reason why a Portuguese family would celebrate May first the way they do is because May has the clearest of weather, after the frequently overcast climate of winter. Thus, it is normal to find Portuguese families coming out in droves for the celebration of Labour Day as the weather is simply great!
My exposure to how Portuguese commemorate Labour Day was way back in 2006. The meeting had ended on April 30, and I was convinced by a Portuguese colleague to stay until May the 2nd. I had to see what Labour Day is in Portugal, this colleague of mine states. I readily agreed as I wasn't expected back at work until May 4th, anyway. I was curious if Labour Day in Portugal would be any different from how we commemorate Labour Day in our country. I also thought this was the case on May 1st, but I was pleasantly surprised when this colleague's family took me with for a picnic by the roadside for a PICNIC! The day was spent sitting down, talking and drinking bottles of wine, the first of which was opened immediately after the picnic was set up, by the way.
May 1st brings a lot of changes to the fields in Portugal. In ordinary days, several spots by the roadsides are virtually abandoned. On the first of May, these spots are suddenly teeming with families and groups of people enjoying a picnic under the Sun. The Portuguese like their celebrations simple, it seems, and instead they evidently prefer to spend that day with their loved ones with a quiet picnic under the warmth of the Sun. Aside from that, we were dealt to a parade by the local fire and police departments who came out in full force! "Now this is one great way to remember Labour Day!" I thought to myself.
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Of course, May 1 is not the only festival in the Algarve and is only one of the many reasons to visit the area for your trips. If you are curious, click here for more details on how you can book luxury holidays to Algarve in May and what options you have in terms of airline tickets and hotel accommodation.. Unique version for reprint here: Do You Want to Know How the Portuguese Remember Labour Day?.
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