Christmas is coming to Lisbon

Christmas Lights

The celebrations began on the 22 November at Terreiro do Paço, when the long-awaited Christmas lights were turned on. Portuguese traditional music accompanied the moment through the voices of Sara Correia and Ângelo Freire, who brought Fado into the celebrations as an homage to the Portuguese Fado singer Carlos Paredes and other artists like António Variações and Pedro Abrunhosa.

Christmas Carols

Christmas songs will be one of the highlights of Lisbon’s celebrations for Christmas. The performances are free of charge and will happen in various churches, theatre rooms and by the National Pantheon.

Four Lisbon churches will receive different concerts supported in a poetic narrative style that highlights different themes such as the origins and the beginning of the Christmas celebrations, among the popular beliefs from the 16th and 17th centuries. Another celebration regarding the sacred erudite from the 17th century until 20th century will be held in this series of events conceived by Filipe Faria.

The first Church to host a concert will be São Vicente de Fora, on 5 December, by 9pm. The concert entitled “O dia – Entre a luz e a sombra no Barroco Ibérico”, will be performed by Concerto Campestre. The audience will have the opportunity to see a second concert “A palavra – Voz e silêncio na devoção ibérica”, by Sete Lágrimas, at the Church of Santa Isabel, on 7 December, at 5pm. The third show will take place at the Church of Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes on 12 December at 9pm. and it is entitled “A Beleza – Louvor Italiano”, with the voices of Altos do Bairro & Coro Alto. The final concert of this series of events will take place at the Church of Seminário de Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Luz on 14 December at 5pm and it is called “A noite – Mistério e luz no Natal do mundo”, interpreted by Coro de Câmara do Instituto Gregoriano de Lisboa.

Although not only held in churches, the concerts will still be one of the highlights of the Christmas celebrations in Lisbon. On 8 December, which is a bank holiday in Portugal, Cinema São Jorge will host the show “Boneco de Neve”, by the Orquestra POP Portuguesa and the event will start at 4:30pm. The concert follows a story of a boy that travels through a world, with his snowman, where everything is possible if you use the power of imagination.

On 13 December, at 9pm, Fado will be the main attraction with “Lisboa Fado, Terra Natal”, performed by Katia Guerreiro, Cristina Branco, Hélder Monteiro and Pedro de Castro at the Capitólio.

To celebrate the spirituality, on 19 December at 9pm, the Saint Dominic’s Gospel Choir will perform at the National Pantheon, celebrating the magic of this season.

Christmas Market

The Rossio Christmas Market in the Baixa-Chiado area will be open until 21 December.

In this market, people will find cultural entertainment and local season’s gastronomy. It is also the perfect place to buy Christmas gifts for the loved ones and even gives the chance to the younger ones to meet with Santa Claus and ask him directly what they want for Christmas. It will also be possible to visit an exhibition at the Dolls’ Hospital, close to the market.

There will be live shows, starting at 6pm, brought by Eduardo Santana (29 November), and the folklore group Os Camponeses Dona Maria – Sintra (30 November).

The families will have a lot of fun in the Christmas trains that will run across the market from Sunday to Thursday from 3pm to 10pm. Before bank holidays, Fridays and Saturdays, the schedule is extended until 11pm.

The Rossio Christmas Market is open from Sunday to Thursday from 10am until 10pm. On the days before bank holidays, Fridays and Saturdays, the market will be open from 10am until 11pm.

Christmas at the museum

From 6 to 13 of December, the Museum of Lisboa prepared an “unforgettable Christmas”, with various free activities for the whole family to participate in.

On 6 December, at the Church of Santo António de Lisboa, by 6:30pm, there will be a show performed by Mano a Mano. On the same day people may see other concert in Palácio Pimenta, by 6pm, with the participation of four elements of Les Secrets des Roys.

To celebrate Christmas’ flavours and aromas, on 7 December, “Pimenta Doce” will happen at Palácio Pimenta by 3pm, where people will have the opportunity to make orange jam to offer to friends and family.

A culinary workshop called “Garum, que delícia!” will take place at Casa dos Bicos, on 13 December, by 3pm, where people may experience the flavour of garum, a fish sauce from the Roman Empire era. On the same day, by 10:30am, Christmas aromas will play the leading role, and people will discover what families ate during the Christmas season during the Middle Ages.

Contacts:

www.lisboa.pt