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Back to Grandma's - Christmas Starts Here
An afternoon with your grandmother
(even if she's not actually yours)
21 November . Kube Alvalade . Lisbon
with A Avó Veio Trabalhar
Too early for Christmas?
Not at Grandma’s.
Christmas has a tendency to arrive all at once.
So this year, we’re starting a little differently.
Before the rush begins, we’re going back to Grandma’s.
For one afternoon, let yourself be adopted by our Portuguese grandmothers from A Avó Veio Trabalhar and kick off the Christmas season at a slightly more grandmother-approved pace.
Make something with your hands. Eat something that took time to prepare. Hear stories from another generation. Remember that Christmas doesn’t have to start with a rush.
This time, Grandma’s request:
Bring a pair of warm winter socks you already own.
Let’s give them a second life with a little Christmas magic.
Together, we’ll give them a festive makeover with embroidery, traditional Portuguese know-how and Grandma’s creative touch.
No pressure to make it perfect.
No need to buy something new.
Just a few hours to make something yours again.
Along the way, expect grandma-made Christmas treats, tea, stories, unexpected Portuguese lessons and plenty of unsolicited grandma wisdom.
Consider this the beginning of your slower Christmas. 🤍
What this Saturday will look like:
A warm welcome at the door: Tea, something homemade and probably someone checking whether you’ve eaten.
Meet your Portuguese grandmothers: Settle into Grandma’s way of doing Christmas with the grandmothers adopting you for the afternoon.
Your winter socks, Grandma’s Christmas touch: With Grandma’s help, give your winter socks a festive makeover using simple embroidery techniques inspired by traditional Portuguese know-how. Christmas trees, stars, slightly questionable reindeer — where it goes is up to you. :) No previous experience required.
A Christmas table made for lingering: Because Christmas at Grandma’s is never just about the activity.
There’ll be time to eat, embroider, talk, hear stories, pick up some unexpected Portuguese or simply stay at the table a little longer.
No rushing to the next thing.
By the end, you’ll leave with a pair of winter socks made a little more festive and a lot more yours and, hopefully, a different rhythm to carry into the rest of the season.
Good to know
No embroidery experience needed. Complete beginners are very welcome.
No Portuguese required. We begin in English and then let Grandma love language do the rest.
Bring a pair of warm winter socks you already own. We’ll provide all the embroidery materials and everything else you need.
Come hungry enough for Grandma to feed you. :)
Christmas starts here.
At Grandma’s.
Photography & filming We’ll have someone capturing parts of the event, and we’ll share the photos with participants afterwards. We may also use a small selection on The Manual Break’s website and social media. If you’d prefer not to be photographed or not to appear in anything we share publicly, just let us know in advance or on the day. We’ll make sure your preference is respected.