- Most of Portuguese citizens are Roman Catholic. Regular attendance at mass, however, has declined in the cities and larger towns, particularly in the Southern part of the country.
- Portugal is famous for its glazed tiles and one can find many fine examples of colourful azulejos all over Lisbon. The tradition came to Lisbon through the Moors and the Portuguese took up the methods and techniques involved in their fabrication with enthusiasm. The tiles can be seen ornamenting the walls of both the interior and the exterior of many buildings and churches.
- An important part of the Portuguese culture relates to local and regional dances, such as vira and corridinho, and traditional forms of music, such as fado and cante alentejano, both of them considered by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity.
- Fado first appeared in Portugal at the end of the eighteenth century, as a nostalgic form of song favoured by sailors. Its name derives from the Latin word fatum, meaning ‘fate’ or ‘destiny’, being aware of one`s own existence and of the suffering and happiness that guide one’s life.
- The national symbol of Portugal is the Galo de Barcelos (Barcelos Rooster), symbolising honesty, integrity, trust and honour and it is also believed to bring good luck.
- It is popular to drink wine at mealtimes, or in social events, as well as coffee (usually meaning an expresso, that is, bica, or cimbalino when in Oporto) at any time of day, but specially after every meal.
- Portugal has a wide variety of regional fairs, many of which are combined with religious festivals .
Communication Skills for Integration of Migrants
The WelComm project aims at raising awareness of the importance of education for social inclusion of migrants from early age and promoting opportunities for equal start in education.