PORTUGUESE LEGENDS.pdf
Let's know some of the Portuguese legends that our students choose to share with you:
The legend of Chamusca
During the time of the Great Roman Empire, a centurion and his legion had been walking for several days without food and water.
Soldier 1 - My centurion, I can't stand it anymore.
Soldier 2 - We have been walking for more than a week without stopping. We are tired and we have no water and no food.
Soldier 1 - Last time I ate something was in Badajoz.
Centurion - Shut up! I'm fed up with your complaints.
Soldier 1 - But sir...
Soldier 2 - I'm starving and...
Centurion - Alright then! So, "Chã busca!"
Soldier 2 - What?
Centurion - "Chã busca!"! It's an order.
Soldier 1 - "Chã busca!"! What's that?
Soldier 2 - You are really stupid? So, don't you know what "Chã...busca!" means?
Soldier 1 - No, I don't. Do you?
Soldier 2 - Of course I do!
Soldier 1 - So, what is it?
Soldier 2 - It's a dog.
Soldier 1 - it's what?
Soldier 2 - it's the centurion's dog.
Soldier 1 - Ah!!!
(They both start searching for the dog. Some time later, the Centurion returns. The soldiers become afraid)
Centurion - So? (He looks at the river Tagus) Very well! You found it! It's not really a "Chã" but it's a river, even better. We will camp here. Well done, men!
Soldier 1 - Did you understand anything?
Soldier 2 - I think "Chã" means "water".
Soldier 1 - Ah...
The legend of Parreira
Many years ago, a very poor man was walking from place to place and he had nothing to eat.
One day, while he was passing by, he saw an old man who was sitting by the road. This poor old man didn't even have the strength to walk.
He approached the poor man and gave him the only thing he had to eat, a bunch of grapes.
After eating the grapes, the old man threw the grape seeds on the ground and thanked the passer-by, who would be left with nothing to eat.
On year later, when the passer-by returned to that place, the entire path was covered with vineyards full of delicious grapes that allowed him yo satisfy his hunger.
The legend of "Senhor do Bonfim"
According to the legend, some pilgrims coming from Spain arrived at Chamusca.
They decided to rest and to sleep there on the top of the highest hill.
It was a very cold night, so they decided to make a fire and get warm.
They stayed there until they fell asleep.
Around the fire, covered with blankets, they slept on the floor and they didn't notice that the fire was spreading to the surroundings.
When they woke up, they were completely surrounded by the fire and they couldn't escape.
Terrified, they kneeled down and they prayed to God to give them a pleasant death. And so it happened.
Later they build a small church there to thank God for having helped them.
The legend of "Arripiado"
Once upon a time, many, many years ago, king Baqui, his beautiful wife, queen Fata and their daughter, Ari, lived in Almourol Castle.
They were moors and they wanted Ari to get married to a very rich and old uncle named Xurami.
However, Ari was in love with a beautiful young christian named Roderico. Her parents didn't like the idea and sent her to the castle's tallest tower. She couldn't go out and she had a chain locked to her foot. Ari stayed there for a long time and she was really sad.
Baqui, Ari's father ordered his men to kill the young Roderico and so thy did. When Ari heard the news she became so sad that she died some time later. In that moment a dove flew to Roderico's grave.
Roderico and Ari's love story stayed forever in people's memory. Today the name of the village is Arripiado, "Ari peada", which means that the princess Ari was enclosured.
