Proud to be Portuguese - A potential renaissance.
December 30, 2025
Phillipa of Lancaster - an Englishwoman - was Queen of Portugal. As a modern day English woman and a pilgrim in Portugal, I am observing and writing about my experiences of a country with a proud history, searching to define its current pride bandwidth in a fast changing world. Through my personal lens I see a country with the potential for a renaissance and a modern take on being proud to be Portuguese. In addition to pride, Portugal still has a deep patrimony and the poised potential to rise as a small country seeking new alliances as the global map shifts in an accelerated fashion.
The question is how can Portugal emerge with a fresh archetype peacefully, persuasively, politely and passionately? What is her new vocal identity hewn from Fado and her value creation ingenuity for a conscious generation seeking authenticity and fair shares for all? She is small and small is beautiful economically, but she also has linguistic reach as well as historic relationships spanning the globe. She’s also creative with a history of making things. From structures to shoes to textiles. Her literature and civic pride tells of deep culture with meaning. No need to throw the baby out with the bath water. Just change the water and use a new bar of soap.
To be proud is to find pleasure in your achievements. It goes well with dignity, which is about standing tall in who and what you are. They say that pride can come before a fall, meaning that you can’t rely on past achievements but have to keep changing and evolving to maintain the very qualities which were the bedrock of the pride in the first place.
My challenge and invitation is to gather a community of young Portuguese who feel a great pride in being Portuguese, and to really drill down what the substance of this feeling is and how it can translate into a countrywide movement - which puts Portugal back on the global map as a country you would seek as your ally, trading partner, wise elder and cultural guide.
To this end I’m exploring ways to gather data, ignite interest and fan the fire passion of the young Portuguese. They are a kind people. They are of the heart. The very best place to start.
I’m calling in the spirit of Phillipa of Lancaster to light the path. She must have a thing or two to teach me!!