You may not like sardines, but if you're committed to immersing yourself in the culture, on June 12 in Lisbon, everyone eats sardines.
He was born Fernando Martins de Bulhões in 1195, a Portuguese Catholic priest and member of the Order of Friars Minor. He was raised in a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal, and was heralded in his time for his powerful preaching. Nearly 800 years after his death, he's celebrated and revered for his devotion to the poor and sick. Today, he's remembered as Anthony of Lisbon, or to most, St. Anthony.
June is considered the best month to visit Portugal. There are countless days of celebrations and festivals, and perhaps most notably, St. Anthony's Day on June 12. Two nights ago, Telaney Kilian '26 found herself right in the middle of it .
"There were parties in the street that last all night. There were concerts on every block. Oh, and there were sardines everywhere."
The beginning of sardine season coincides with the national celebration of St. Anthony, which means that in addition to parades and dancing, sardines are ubiquitous. Sardines are considered the fish of the poor in Portugal. As the Portuguese people pay their respect to their favorite patron saint, they grill up sardines like they're hot dogs.
Kilian may not have discovered a new favorite food, but she's developed an appreciation for the delicacies of Lisbon – and she's being graded on it. Kilian is studying abroad for the month of June, taking one course from the University of Lisbon - School of Agriculture. Her class, Mediterranean Diet, satisfies a Franciscan core, and includes a rotating faculty of experts in everything from vegetables to olive oil. Next week, Kilian and her classmates will be taking field trips to a vineyard and a cork factory.
"Going into college, I knew I wanted to study abroad but I was nervous about being away for an entire semester. I was here one week when I called my parents and said, 'Oh boy, I might want to do this again.'"
Originally, Kilian considered Greece for a month, but she found the right program in Portugal, and is spending the month abroad with a close friend and a healthy cohort of fellow Saints. They're traveling together, including frequent trips to the beach, and celebrating St. Anthony with sardines.
"Everyone here is overly friendly. This was something I was nervous to do, but it's been so eye-opening. I've learned so much about myself, and I've experienced so much in a short period of time. This is something I would recommend to anyone."
