Surviving Fascism with Fatima, Football and Fado

Antonio Salazar, Portugal's ruler from 1932 to 1968, relied on a secret police force and all the other tools of authoritarian regimes, in order to stay in power.  However, compared to fascist rulers like Hitler and Franco, his rule was relatively benign - for instance he opposed anti semitism.  Nevertheless his rule marked a period of dreadful poverty and intellectual suppression.

The Portuguese turned to Fatima, Football and Fado to help them get through his long rule.

Fatima 

The small town of Fatima rose to fame in 1917 when three shepherd children witnessed visions of the Virgin Mary.

During Salazar's rule, works on a monumental scale, were commissioned to commemorate the apparitions:

 

Football

Today there is Christiano Ronaldo.  When I was growing up it was Eusebio.  Born in the former Portuguese colony of Mozambique, he grew up playing football barefooted.  One of the greatest players of all time, he was Portugal's equivalent to his Brazilian contemporary, Pele.  In his fifteen years with Benfica he scored 317 goals in 301 appearances.

After England winning the World Cup in 1966, one of the happiest days of my childhood was in 1968, when Manchester United (starring George Best and Bobby Charlton) beat Eusebio's Benfica team to win the European Championship.

Fado

Like Flamenco, Fado features mournful tunes about hardship and loss.  Unlike flamenco, there are no beautiful dancers or zippy guitar music, to lighten the mood.  Michele and I went to a well reviewed Fado restaurant in Porto.  The main difference between this experience, and a trip to a dental hygienist, is that with a hygienist, you know it will soon be over.  Note to self:  do not always rely on Trip Advisor.