You might remember my failed mission to Odeleite, and the Christmas fair that wasn’t? Life sometimes has a way of compensating, doesn’t it? On Monday I took you walking in Parque de Lazer. The road there passes through the small village of Santa Rita, a little off the beaten track. As we passed by we were thrilled to see the villagers setting up stalls for a Christmas market. There wasn’t time to stop just then, but I was keen to see the festivities so we popped back later. Too late for the fair itself, but what a treat awaited us.
It was late afternoon and we had the place almost to ourselves. A couple of older ladies were chatting on the doorstep, and they smiled and waved when they saw us admiring the decorations. It felt like Christmas should. Simple, homemade ornaments, arranged with love. A modern tree sparkled beside an imaginative crib scene and, down the street, lights twinkled in the windows.
The light was fading as we wandered the back streets of the village, entranced by some of the pieces, amused by others. Much thought and care had gone into the creation of this small celebration of Christmas, and I was sure that the village children must have had fun helping with the decorating. The grown ups, too!
I especially liked the paintings, and wondered which talented artist had been responsible. The sense of whimsy made me smile. Cute faces etched on stone, and painted on wood. The shawled, anxious family against the chipped tiled wall. Ornate cherubs, divorced from reality. Tinselled ladders propped, willy nilly, against walls. I loved it all!
And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun, The near and the dear one, The old and the young…. in the words of John Lennon.
Merry Christmas, one and all! Join me in Tavira next week, if you can find time. The lights are beautiful.
Still Restlessjo 
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Jo, this is an absolutely delightful looking village, and the Christmas decorations are wonderful. With all the OTT colors and Christmas lights these days it’s easy to forget how effective and evocative simple, handmade decorations can be. Of course, I’ve always been partial to the clean, whitewashed walls and terracotta tile-look of Portugal and Spain. I envy your walk through this pleasant little village. All the best for a happy and healthy 2022. ~James
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Thanks so much, James! I have to say that, aside from spending time with my youngsters, this was one of my favourite moments this past year. Wishing you and yours also a healthy happy 22.
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Really wonderful, Jo, in exactly the ways that you said and for the same reasons. Thanks for sharing this! And have a good one, as they say in New York. 🙂
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A real Christmas, Lynn! Thanks so much. You make lovely company. Have a merry one! 🎅🎄☃️⭐💕
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I would really love this place…very charming!
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I do too, Teresa! Merry Christmas!
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Charming and whimsical are perfect to describe this jewel of a place, Jo! The simplicity is infused with the artists’ spirits for sure. Absolutely lovely and left me smiling this Sunday! Enjoy a wonderful and peaceful Christmas and New Year, Jo!
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Thanks so much, Terri! I’m doing fine until someone fills me full of angst about all the things that could go wrong with our UK visit this week. So much more serene here, but who knows if it will last? Happy to have a bit of escapism, Portuguese style. Thanks, darlin!
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Thank you so much for the tour, Jo. Love these creative and beautiful Christmas decorations! Here people are used to buy from stores…
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I always want to make a wreath for the door, Amy, but my creative efforts are always laughed at so it’s nice to admire others. I have all my candles flickering indoors though, and it makes me happy. Have a wonderful time, hon!
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Candles, how beautiful! 💖
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oh how wonderful – somewhere for us to discover if we even manage to spend Christmas in Portugal again. Fingers are crossed for a 2022 natal
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Keep them crossed, hon! It’s quite an ordinary village normally but their Saint’s Day coincides with 8th December, which is a national holiday. What better excuse for a celebration?
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Fabulous 😍
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And so this IS Christmas Jo! I absolutely loved the entire town and its simple, homemade decoration clearly created with love. I’ve seen very few things that made me feel such warmth and admiration as this perfect little place. Thanks so much for posting it – you’ve made my day!
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Welcome to my world, Tina! One of the most endearing things about this country is how this kind of unexpected happening pops up. The whole village embraces it, and when we went back a couple of days later we managed to find the community centre with its display of miniature nativity scenes. And two smiling assistants, every bit as delighted as we were.
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These are just delightful!
Alison
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It’s a treat, isn’t it? Thanks, Alison!
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Jo, it does seem a lot of thought and creativity went into this festive display
And love how you led us to the John Lennon lyrics – the song is still playing my mind as I type this 🎵🎶
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This and ‘Imagine’ are two of the most beautiful songs ever to be written, Yvette. Wishing you a joyful Christmas.
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thanks – but hopefully we will connect gain before then –
🙂
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What a wonderful place!
Merry Christmas! I hope you have a lovely time 🙂
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Thanks a lot, Nikki! And to you as well 🎅☃️🎄💕
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It’s so easy to miss your posts as I don’t get the email notifications like I did with your previous blog, so I’m glad I found this one as there’s so much to like. Impossible to choose a favourite but my top 5 are the first one, the Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus painting, the painted stone, the colourful one behind the grille and the shawled family against the blue tiled wall – I think those are particularly cute 🙂 It’s nice to see the village so well decorated, the people there have done themselves proud. 🙂
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I don’t make it easy, Eunice – I’m sorry! My posts are Mondays but I often post on a Thursday if it’s not a walk and there’s a lot going on. I absolutely love this village and am delighted to be able to share it. Glad you caught up with me. I will be back next Monday and that will be it till after Christmas. Hope you have something nice planned 🎅☃️🎄💕
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That is so awesome Jo! Understated but so effective. Have a wonderful Christmas Jo! 🎄
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Thanks so much, Aletta. The whole village just made me smile. Merry Christmas, darlin!
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Can imagine that 🎄🎄
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Indeed, this is Christmas! How fabulous that the while village makes an effort to dress up and the town and celebrate together in this way. Such creativity!
I love that you were treated to this walk, and that you are sharing it with us.
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It’s the spirit of Christmas, isn’t it, Ju-Lyn? I never stopped smiling the whole time I was there. Merry Christmas, darlin!
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Indeed! Some places and some people exude more Christmas feeling than others – but it all comes down to ourselves, isn’t it? Having said this, we always feel more Christmasy when we are in London – something about the cold.
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Yet another beautiful Portuguese village 🙂 I love all the Christmas decorations captured in your wonderful photos and the joy they bring along. Thanks for sharing and have a lovely evening 🙂 Aiva
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Thanks a lot, Aiva. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas too. It’s a magical time when you have a youngster 🎅🎄☃️💕
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love this quaint, charming village, Jo! the Christmas decors are simply gorgeous! 🙂
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You can’t leave without smiling, LolaWi! Merry Christmas to you!
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Jo, such a quaint little village with a very festive feel. Merry Christmas to you and your family and I hope 2022 will bring good health, fun, and adventures.
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It’s beautiful, Gilda! Funnily enough we drove through again this morning on our way to a different walk. Returning your greetings, hon! Hope you have a lovely Christmas, however you celebrate.
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Looks wonderful Jo, my favourite has to be the one next to the single orange.
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Love those faces, Andrew! Wishing a very merry one to you, Kim and the grandies!
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Lovely Christmas tour, Jo. Simple things are so often the best and these are thoroughly charming. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
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Many thanks, Graham! These were too nice to keep to myself. Merry Christmas, hon!
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Oh my goodness, Jo, what a glorious visit!! I would definitely go back. I had a huge smile on my face by the time I finished. I love Christmas and these were just wonderful!
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Can’t help but smile, can you, Janet? I absolutely loved it!
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How lovely! The simplest decorations are often the nicest.
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I loved the effort and creativity that went into these, Carol. Definitely puts a smile on your face. Merry Christmas, hon!
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Have a happy Christmas over there and here’s cheers to an even happier and healthier 2022! Melx
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Doing our best, Mel but with a lot of trepidation 🤫💗 Wishing you a fabulous 2022 🎅🌲☃️💕
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This was a delight to read, a feast of the beauty of simplicity and innocent holiday joy for the eyes. Your lovely photos and heart-warming commentary
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So nice to be able to invite people into my world, Babsje. Merry Christmas to you 🎅🌲☃️💗
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Thank you, Jo! Merry Christmas to you and yours, too. 🎅 ☃ 🎄 🎁
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This is so lovely, thank you for sharing it Jo 🙂 I like the paintings in particular but it’s all great, and totally in the spirit of Christmas!
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The village was looking beautiful this morning when we went back, Sarah. The place is like a magnet, it has so much appeal. Have a lovely Christmas 🎅🌲☃️💗
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What a brilliant find and I’m so glad you’ve shared this with us. I love the Nativity scenes and I noticed that most of them showed Joseph & Mary in a properly oriental style. I hope you did go back and see the things you missed and I look forward to your next post. Meantime, I’ve got my fingers crossed that your travel plans aren’t disrupted.
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I am getting desperate thinking about it, Mari. A few friends go home tomorrow and I’m starting to wish I was among them. 🙄💗
We did manage to go and see the miniature nativity scenes this morning so I expect they might be a New Year treat 🎅🌲☃️💗
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What a lovely treat🙂 I love all these home made decorations, such a sweet creativity🎅🌲 I do like to decorate our home, with little things, for example, this year I painted the little squashes we’ve had from Thanksgiving, and hung them in the tree outside🙂 Hopefully the strong winds we are having these days will not tear them down. Merry Christmas Jo, to you and to your dear ones!
Christie
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I’m not very good at making things. My daughter excels but she’s a long way away 🙄💕 But she’d love these too. Have a lovely Christmas, Christie 🎅🌲☃️💗
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Simple is most definitely better. I see an elf managed to sneak his way into the scene! These decorations wouldn’t last long here I’m afraid. Far too windy! Only a week to go before you leave, I guess you are keeping an eye on the travel news. Let’s hope Portugal doesn’t follow France’s example and ban all but essential travel.
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What a ray of sunshine you are! I’m trying not to imagine the worst. 🙄💗
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Merry Christmas and thanks for the walk through Santa Rita. I love small communities, best places to walk
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Lovely to share it with you, Alice. Merry Christmas, hon!
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For me, I appreciate the beauty through simplicity of what you captured. Maybe you’ll catch the market in action next year along with some cake. Merry Christmas, Jo.
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8th December is etched in my memory, Frank. At least, it is now! Not sure about next year! I expect I’ll find some cake before then. Merry Christmas to you, hon!
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Thank you for this festive post, Jo! I really enjoyed it.
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The craft work is lovely, isn’t it, Jill? Glad you could enjoy it with me.
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This was a massive treat, for us as well as you. The gold frames are such a good idea and especially effective on a windowless wall. I like the ladder too – in fact I like it all. The faces of Mary and Joseph on the stone made me smile. They seemed to show something of the anxiety of first time parents in a very unusual situation – “what have we here?”
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Thanks, Susan. One of the things we love about Portugal is the delight they take in the simple but meaningful things in life. So often we come upon them as a surprise, like this one, and we wander round with big grins on our faces. Glad you like them too. Merry Christmas, hon!
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What a wonderful find Jo. I loved this walk around Santa Rita. Such a simple and artistic pleasure 🙂 🙂
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We drove past in blazing sunshine with the whole village busy setting up the fair, Brian. Mick wasn’t driving so we couldn’t stop at will, but we were very happy to return the next day. I really loved it.
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Well worth going back Jo. I loved it as well 🙂 🙂
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🎅🌲☃️💗
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Absolutely gorgeous – I can understand why you were so thrilled to find this village.
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It’s lovely, isn’t it? And we’ll probably go back. Apparently there’s a display of miniature presepios- nativity scenes – in the school hall and we missed them 🎅🌲☃️💗
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