New Year's Day Description
New Year's Day marks the first day of the Gregorian calendar. Celebrated nationwide with fireworks displays along the coast, particularly in Lisbon's Praça do Comércio, Funchal (Madeira), and Porto's Ribeira district. Most businesses, banks, and public offices close completely. Portuguese families traditionally enjoy a lunch of "cozido" or roast meats. The day is generally quiet after the previous night's revelry, though some attend New Year's concerts or traditional "Janeiras" singing in northern villages.
