This Legend of the almond tree blossoms is one of my favourite Portuguese stories.
This traditional Portuguese legend is also a great way to learn European Portuguese through story. Below, you’ll find a listening lesson with subtitles, allowing you to improve your comprehension while discovering a piece of Portuguese history and folklore.
The Legend of the Almond Tree Blossoms
A long, long time ago, before Portugal was Portugal, there was a Moorish King who reigned in the Al-Gharb (which later would become the Algarve). This king had never known defeat.
One day, among the prisoners of a battle, he set his eyes upon a lovely, tall, blond and blue-eyed princess from the North. Impressed, the Moorish king gave her her freedom.
A mysterious illness
Over time, he gained her trust and confessed his love to her. They married and were happy. But one day, the beautiful northern queen fell ill for no apparent reason. No one seemed to be able to help or cure her.
When one of the other northern prisoners of war heard of what was going on, he asked to see the king, and he revealed to him that the queen was feeling nostalgic and missing the snow from her distant country. It was then that the Moorish king ordered the planting of many almond trees throughout his kingdom.
Living happily ever after
The following spring, the king led his queen to a window of the castle. Upon seeing the white almond blossoms, she started to feel better, for they gave her the illusion of snow. The queen was cured of the saudade she was feeling.
🎧 Listen to the story in Portuguese
Watch and listen to this legend in European Portuguese. The video includes English subtitles to support your understanding as you follow the story.
📄 Free PDF – Portuguese Version of the Story
You can read and download the Portuguese version of this legend to practise reading and vocabulary. It’s perfect for following along with the audio and reviewing the story at your own pace.
Origin of the Almond Blossom Legend in Portugal
This almond tree blossom legend is one of my favourites and is very old. It has been attributed to many different regions and countries, and of course, has varying versions. Its most remote origin seems to have been in Persia and also appears in Turkey. In Spain, it’s connected to the cities of Cordoba and Seville. However, in Portugal, it is primarily associated with Silves in the Algarve.
There are versions of the story that name the king Ibn-Almundim and the princess as Gilda, but according to some respected researchers, the legend in Spain and in Portugal is said to be based on the famous poet King Al-Mu’tamid and his wives.
There are again different versions of the tale. They differ from the one above, which is the generic Portuguese version.
In one of these other versions, it is said he ordered the almond trees planted (around Seville) because his favourite wife, I’timad, a former Christian slave, had never seen snow, and the fallen white petals were the closest thing to resemble snow in the southern climate.
In another version, it is said that one time in February, when the king Al-mu’tamid and his blond and blue-eyed wife Ramaiquia were in Cordoba, there was some snowfall. This moved Ramaiquia to tears, and she lamented that her king never took her to lands to see the snow, and he, to please her, had almond trees planted throughout the countryside in Cordoba.
This version is also the one that most people agree is what the Portuguese one is based on, just set in Silves, Algarve, instead of Spain.
Do you know of any similar stories or legends? I would love to hear about them.
