I was in the English shop in portimao last week and was confronted by mince pies on the check out counter, which reminded my that the festive season is on the horizon. This prompted me to wonder where in the western Algarve it’s possible to buy a Christmas Turkey. This year looks like being my first one for five years to stay for Christmas rather than return to Hong Kong. Wherever I am in the world I want a turkey for Christmas dinner

You'll have to change continents again, not Turkey but Peru!!

Check whatever big supermarket is near you, but also small butchers if possible. Continente doesn't seem to show "Peru Inteiro" for sale (yet?) Good ones may not be cheap though - an organic black Turkey online was priced at €16 a kilo, minimum 4 kg and is already sold out!! Another from the Alentejo (there's exotic!) is priced at €25 a kilo!! But "ordinary" Turkey seems to come in at around €7 a kilo, though I can only see adverts from the North, which is a bit of a long drive!!

Personally, I'll go for Duck.

Agree with the above.

They'll be on the shelves of all the major supermarkets in the run-up to Christmas - often surprisingly late, for those of us of a nervous British disposition

Thanks for the intel. In Hong Kong they are called “for gai”, which means fire chicken, as turkey is considered a “hot” meat by the locals. The ones we used to buy were imported chilled Australian and sourced through an expat who ran a deli. We often had to pay 120 to 150 quid for a 6kg bird. Lots of turkey sandwiches the week after and then turkey curry in the freezer, though

Have you thought about Guinea fowl? Pintada?

When I left school a million years ago I worked on a farm that had dozens of noisy Guinea fowl, so I’ve eaten a few in my time. Not even close to a good roast Turkey with all the trimmings

What about Bacalhau?

Bugger, only 72 days till Xmas!
I was puffing my way along a sweltering Avenida de Roma yesterday watching them put up the Xmas lights - I thought I was back in Aus
God, that Christ bloke has a lot to answer for

Caras de Bacalhau for Consoada, of course, SWMBO would never miss out on that! Back home we'd have Shannon Salmon on the 24th, so in our house we compromise - Caras for her, cutlets for me.......

But what about the 25th? Boiled Ham and Spiced Beef were the Ma's favourite ...... the Ham set to boil over Midnight Mass and sampled on the return, before liquor was taken and opening family presents. How the house never burned to the ground is beyond me!

Crawl into bed late in the early hours, just to make sure Christmas Morning was never a thing, rise and nibble until Goose at dinner (now reduced to Duck by cost and family size!). Christmas Day for SWMBO was less important - but "sonhos" on the table are a must.

Yup that's the worst thing about marrying into the native culture - I have to do xmas twice over, 24th AND 25th
My favourite xmas of all the many I have had to suffer was when I was single, just arrived in PT knowing no one at all - I stayed at home ignoring the whole horrible fusion of two of my least favourite things: religion and ultra-consumerism - a Marriage Made in Heaven
you Oiiiyreeeesh do it on the 24th too? (Catholic thing?)
I had to do the 24th thing when I was married into Germany
kids opening presents at midnight when they are all falling over with exhaustion AND hyper on adrelanine - then being told it was time to leave toys and go to bed - at least that is funny to watch if possibly one of the most stupid ideas I have ever heard of
Most of the world doesnt even have xmas, but Marketing Dept is working on that!
Oh, Look out - here comes Hallo-effing-ween
(I may be a little negative when it comes to these things, no apologies for that)

Oh in Ireland the 24th was just the run-up, Midnight Mass was the kick-off - but then there was a large gap until the second half, sometime around Christmas afternoon! In Portugal it's seriously early on 24th, consoada at 20:00 gets me every time!

Sounds like Germany did it the same way we did, last man standing, etc. - my sister still does the whole shebang, but I've mellowed.

Still, better than Spain with Reyes as well!! Spent the Christmas period in Rincón once, many moons ago. Christmas, mehhh, New Years Eve was an all-nighter with raisins and cava supplied by the municipality on the main square, followed by a visit to every bar alongside my new emigrante amigos home from Germany, Reyes was for the kids.

With bird flu seemingly spreading thru Spain - do not know about Portugal; I would search for a turkey now and throw it in the freezer for whatever day you celebrate x-mas.
Better safe than sorry/hungry/disappointed....