The people of Portugal love the traditions linked to a grandeur that no longer exists, one which has left 'saudade' as a heritage. It is an Atlantic melancholy whose roots are to be found in the memories of the great conquests of the past. A people linked to the sea, a symbol of the conjunction with a vaster and richer world. They love and fear it, with the same sense of mystical quiet anticipation with which they approach religion. There are many religious festivals, mostly to venerate the Virgin.
Portuguese dances vary from region to region.
Typical of Minho are 'vira' and ' caninha verde'. Arab influences are often present in these celebrations. The most important ones are 'the dance of the Moors' of the Algarve and the 'dance of King David' of Braga. Dances involving only men are rare. The most important is the dance of the 'paulitos', or sticks, used to create a rhythm for dancers to follow.