Newfies and Alentejanos - What do they have in common? Posted by João on 12:52 pm

Well the answer is actually pretty simple: they are both the butt end of jokes in Canada and in Portugal, respectively. The reasons why the peoples from these geographical regions of the two countries are constantly moked, however, are very different.

In Canada everyone knows of Newfie jokes. They often go something like this:

How did the first Newfie get to Toronto? Some were playing hockey on the frozen-over Gulf of St. Lawrence and one of them got a breakaway.

How many Newfies does it take to go ice fishing? Four. One to cut a hole in the ice and three to put the boat through.

Also, here's a pictorial example:

Newfie Paramedics

Now here in Portugal, Alentejano jokes are a little different. They often go something like this:

Why do Alentejanos open their windows before reading their newspapers? So that the draft will turn the pages for them.

How many Alentejanos does it take to make a baby? Six. One woman, one man and four to shake the bed.

Also, yet another pictorial example:

An Alentejano committing suicide

So while in the case of Newfie jokes the significance is often one of not being very bright (as the Newfie revolver below to the left demontrates), in the case of Alentejanos it's a case of laziness, as if shirtless Christ told them "Don't do anything until I get back" (as the image below to the right shows).

So funny or not; degrading or not - I'm sure every country has Newfies or Alentejanos the rest of the country often has a poke at, be it because they're seen as slow, or not very smart, or because they're a backwards folk, etc.

By the way, have you heard the news about the airplane crush in Newfoundland?