Portuguese Summer overview
Today, September 23rd, is the last day of Summer in the northern hemisphere (Portugal included). As such this seems like a good time to weigh in on how the season is traditionally in Portugal. Even before officially starting with June 21st, Portugal sees the " Santos Populares " ("Folk Saints") season, starting with Saint Anthony of Lisbon's June 13th feast day, then Saint John the Baptist's June 24th one, and finally Saint Peter's June 29th one. They are all marked by festões (festoons) of tiny paper banners being lifted between buildings of party spaces, fried sardines, music, dancing, paper lanterns, alcoholic drinks and plastic honking hammer in the Saint John's case, each of the 3 feasts being more popular (over the other 3) in some locales more than in others (like St. Anthony in Lisbon, St. John in Oporto and St. Peter in Ehvora but also in many fishing communities). June, July and August are full of is religious (Catholic, with its leftover...