This imaginary character is very popular among Portuguese mothers, who invoke him whenever we refuse to go to bed early. We are told that if a child is still awake when he visits, he will take her with him to a distant place, never to return.
Our mothers call it “benzedura.” They say it treats “evil-eye,” something we can easily catch in the street when someone looks at us with bad thoughts. Whenever we get it, it’s imperative that this ritual is done to us. Otherwise, it might turn into a more serious disease.
Bread is an important Christian symbol. It represents the body of Christ. Portugal is still a country with a strong christian tradition. Even if the family is not religious, mother always recommends we kiss the bread before we throw it away. It is a way to ask God forgiveness for mistreating his son’s body.
Dried codfish is a fundamental part of Portuguese gastronomy. It is normally served at special occasions like Christmas or birthday celebrations. Every mother has her own special ways of cooking it. She proudly improves her skills on every recipe she learns. Inevitably, we end up learning some good tricks to cook the “bacalhau.”
Were your school grades lower than you expected? Did you have a fight with your best friend? Your loved one disappointed you? The best cure is to sit at the table and wait for your mother to cook you a warm dish of cornstarch with lemon zest, cinnamon, and sugar and tell you that everything will be alright.
This soup is a regular presence in every mother’s menu. It is a comforting dish, unmatched by any other soup in the world.
Every Portuguese mother carries photographs of her children in her wallet. Normally they are pictures of you as a baby either getting your diapers changed or learning how the use the potty. 