The following text is part of a presentation and welcome speech from the President of the Academy to all non-Portuguese guests at a dinner. Here we transcribe it as a source of explanation to our traditions:

On behalf of all the Compadres of the Academia do Bacalhau of Toronto (Compadre means family), I bid welcome to all the distinguished guests. I hope that we will all have a good time and enjoy some traditional Portuguese food, here usually based on Cod Fish (bacalhau) and Red Wine.

For those that are here for the first time, in our company, I will explain a little of the background.

The "Academia do Bacalhau" was started officially in South Africa 40 years ago with weekly lunches organized by a group of Portuguese friends. In order to have fun they adopted a format and ritual that was started centuries ago by students at the beautiful University of Porto in Portugal.

Our Objectives are to stimulate, encourage and develop:

1. Friendship, cooperation and confraternization between all our Compadres and Comadres.

2. Facilitate relationships of friendship between the different communities.

3. Spread Portuguese and Luso-Canadian culture and traditional values.

4. Assist charitable institutions.

There are "Academias do Bacalhau" all over the world (45 major cities, now) and every member of a Tertúlia (Group) is accepted as Family, 'Compadres and Comadres' in all the other academies.

To follow the Ancient Academic Rituals, all attendees stand and raise a glass of red wine in a salute in Academic Style:

"Com um Gavião de Penacho, (With a tufted harpy eagle,)
De bico para cima, (With the beak pointing upwards)
De bico para baixo, (With the beak pointing downwards)
Mais acima, Mais abaixo, (Further up, further Down)
Vai ao centro, Bota para dentro!" (To the centre and gulp it down)

(...sorry, it makes a little more sense in Portuguese, but really, not a lot more!)

We are happy to accept new Compadres e Comadres into our Tertúlia, that complete the requirements and are known by all. 

The Norms do not permit us to discuss Politics, Religion or Business in these dinners under penalty of paying a fine for charity, but you also must know that we are very curious about the projects of our Compadres and very proud of successes obtained. Often we will speak of our CHARITY ACTIVITY, TRIPS, ARTS, ETC.

Enjoy your evening...

O Fiel Amigo (The Loyal Friend)
Very Humble President

Ivo Azevedo