A Traveller's Tale: Decorated Houses

The Portuguese communities at the Portuguese Settlement reportedly share some similarities with the Portuguese-speaking communities elsewhere in the world. For one thing, they hold a yearly June festival during which time, there are feasts: Festa Senjuang  or the Feast of Saint John and Festa San Pedro or the Feast of Saint Peter, the fishermen's patron saint. During the festival, the fishermen's boats are gaily decorated and blessed so as to assure a good catch. During Christmas, it is the houses which get gaily decorated, giving the settlement a Disneyland-like atmosphere. Visitors probably are drawn by the decorated houses, too. Visiting the settlement on Christmas night thus put a pleasant end to an already pleasant trip. There's great pleasure in the end!

Peep into the houses! While you are at it, Happy Chinese New Year! Gong Xi Fa Cai! The Chinese all over the world would be ushering in the year of the Horse tomorrow!





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