being portugese

By: Jessica B

I am Portuguese but many people don’t know much or anything about my culture. When I was in elementary school kids would think I was Brazilian because of my last name. It is important to me that people know I am Portuguese because I consider it a big part of my identity. I grew up learning the language and listening to my family speak portuguese. 

My parents are both from Azores portugal. The Azores is made up of nine islands called Corvo, Flores, Faial, Pico, Graciosa, San Jorge, Terceira, San Miguel and Santa Maria. 

My mom is from the island of Terceira, she lived in the villa de São Sebastião. She came to the U.S. when she was twelve years old with her parents and siblings. 

My dad is from the island of San Jorge, he lived in the villa de Topo. He came to the U.S. when he was 19 years old by himself. 

Growing up I would go places with my dad and we would listen to Portuguese music. We would also listen to Portuguese radio when it was on. When a CD got stuck in the radio of my dads truck we had to take them all out and we couldn't listen to Portuguese music anymore. 

Since I liked the music on the CDs I decided to make a playlist on spotify. Since the CDs my dad had were homemade I had to ask Siri what song it was. If she found a song I would add it to my playlist. I did this with a few CDs that I liked. 

I also looked for songs from known Portuguese artists like Jose Malhoa, Quim Barreiros and Jorge Ferreira. Now I listen to Portuguese music all the time. My favorite song is Guitarra Toca Baixinho.

From 2011 to 2012 my sister and I were in holy ghost parades. My older sister was the little queen and my cousin and I were side maids. 

My Dad, Sister and I would go to different cities in California (like Santa Clara, Turlock, Tracy, Gustine, Watsoinville, etc) and walk in parades. We would wear white dresses, crowns and capes. We would also go to parties at the hall we represented which was the IES Portuguese Hall. We would wear our crowns and whatever clothes we wanted.

After the parades they serve a traditional holy spirit soup that consists of bread, cabbage, and meat to everyone for free. They also have other foods that you can buy like nachos, linguiça (a type of sausage), bifana, a fish plate, octopus, Tremoços (lupini bean), massa sovada (sweet bread), and especies (cookies with a spicy filing). Drinks have to be bought. Some drinks that they have are soda, sumol (a passion fruit drink), water, wine and beer. 

I like all Portuguese foods, for example the different types of soups my mom and aunt make. My favorite dessert is Queijadas (Portuguese egg tarts). My favorite flavors are amilias and Natas.

At Portuguese Festas I like to dance to Portuguese music. When I was a side maid I would go to parties every weekend but after I was no longer a side maid and got older I wouldn’t attend Portugueses parties as much. Lately I have been wanting to go to a Portuguese festas so that I can dance because at parties with family no one wants to dance but my Mom, Dad and me.

Other events in the Portuguese community that I like to attend are Bull fights, and Bode de leite. 

 Here bull fights start at the beginning of summer, usually the Saturday before the parade. At the IES Portuguese Hall they have bullfights twice in the beginning and end of June. Bullfights are a way that we celebrate the day before the festa. 

In the valley (or cities like Watsonville, Hilmar, Gustine and Thornton) bullfights are after the festa. Instead on the Saturday before the festa is the Bode de leite. The Bode de leite is a parade with floats and farm animals like horses, cows and goats.

Last year I went with my dad and uncle to the Bode de leite in Watsonville and this year he went by himself and took his two cows in the parade with him. My mom and I plan to go with him next year. 

For the warrior time this is Jessica Brasil