CHRISTMAS TRADITION in PORTUGAL

CHRISTMAS IS …

The religious celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Peace, harmony and having the family reunited. CHRISTMAS IS … Peace, harmony and having the family reunited.

The Christmas spirit

Along the streets, we can see coloured lights and Christmas decorations

Recreation of the Nativity scene In every house, people re-create the stable where Jesus was born. The Nativity scene is built with moss, straw, vegetation and pieces of pottery at the beginning of Advent. Baby Jesus is placed in the Christmas crib only after the midnight Mass (the Mass of the Rooster).

At home, just as in the local church, people find a special place to put the Saviour’s crib from the nativity.

Christmas ornaments

Christmas Eve In Portugal, especially in the North, on the night of the 24th of December, Christmas Eve is called “consoada”.

Families get together for the “Consoada” dinner.

Extra places are set at the table for the “alminhas” ("the souls of the dead").

The “Consoada” meal consists of boiled codfish, eggs,

Boiled potatoes, cabbages, onions,

and octopus

And for dessert a wide variety of traditional sweets

“Rabanadas”

Red Wine Rabanadas Creamed Egg Rabanadas

“Sonhos”

“Formigos” or “Mexidos”

“Aletria”

“Bolo Rei”

Chocolate Bolo-Rei with dried fruits

“Bolinhos de Jerimu”

Azevias

Filhoses

“Pão de Ló”

Coscorões

And many other desserts

After the meal,the table is never completely cleaned After the meal,the table is never completely cleaned. Some cakes and dried fruits are left for the souls.

At the end of dinner, people sing Christmas Carols and play games.

Before midnight, all the family members go to church to attend the mass of the rooster which starts at midnight.

Baby Jesus is given to be kissed

In the regions of Bragança, Guarda or Castelo Branco, a Yule log is burned in the atrium of the village church after mass. People sing and dance around it. It helps keep everyone warm through the night and to wish family and friends a Merry Christmas.

At midnight, there is a firework display

Others prefer to return home and open the presents

Portuguese Christmas suffered some influences of other traditions One of the influence is the replacement of the Baby Jesus by Father Christmas in the delivery of the presents.

Before, children would put their shoes in the living-room for Jesus to leave a present in them.

Now, it is Santa Claus that hands-out the presents.

On the 25th, lunch consists of the traditional “Roupa Velha” (old clothes), made of the leftovers of the previous day.

Dinner consists of various meats.

Roast Turkey

Roast kid or pork meat

The family eats and drinks all night.

“FELIZ NATAL” MERRY CHRISTMAS

Work done for the Comenius Project