CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR TRADITIONS IN PORTUGAL COMENIUS PORTUGAL

CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR TRADITIONS IN PORTUGAL Christmas is one of the most important festivities in our country. In Portugal, these celebrations have a great religious basis, but many pagan traditions origins are still common. It celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The feast is celebrated in December 25th by the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church and some Protestant groups, and on January 7th by the Orthodox Church.

CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR TRADITIONS IN PORTUGAL Initially, the Catholic Church did not celebrate Christmas. It was in the middle of the fourth century that we began celebrating the birth of Jesus, and Pope Júlio I fixed the date on 25th December, ignoring the true date of His birth. One explanation for the choice of December 25th as Christmas Day, is related to the fact that this date coincides with the Saturnalia of the Romans and the Germanic and Celtic festivals of the winter solstice, which are all pagan festivals, the Church saw an opportunity here to Christianize the date, putting in the background its pagan connotations.

CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR TRADITIONS IN PORTUGAL The most important and prevalent is the celebration of family, the opportunity to put differences aside, back to the origin and celebrate with our parents, grandparents and other relatives. One of the most important part of Christmas is the Eve. On the night of the 24th December there is a special supper served after the Holy Midnight Mess, which is usually prepared throughout the day.

CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR TRADITIONS IN PORTUGAL It is part of Christmas dinner a dish of cod, usually cooked with vegetables, to symbolize abstinence which must be preserved on the Eve of the Christmas celebration. However, it is also quite popular sweets served with red or white wine, depending on what is more traditional. The dishes are highly dependant on local traditions: A strong tradition are still the Golden Bread Slices, “Sonhos”, “Filhós”, or “Broas”. Another necessary ingredient in any celebration of Christmas is the dried fruit, which is natural, since they become ripe in the Autumn.

People eat traditional fried desserts: "filhoses or filhós" are made of fried pumpkin dough; "rabanadas" bread that is mixed with egg and syrup; "azevias" are round cakes made of a crust filled with a mixture of chick peas, sugar, and orange peel; "aletria" is a vermicelli sweet with eggs, typical of Norte region.

CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR TRADITIONS IN PORTUGAL BOLO REI The traditional “Bolo Rei” is a cake of brioche mass, stuffed and garnished with a hundred sugar preserved dry fruit bits or perfumed liquor or orange tree flower. Inside the cake there is a limabean and a small gift (puppet, animal, amulet, etc.) representing the King or Queen. If you get the limabean, you should pay for the cake in the following year. Originally, it was a special cake which was intended to celebrate the Epiphany on 6th January, when it is supposed that the Three Kings would have arrived in Bethlehem to offer gifts to the Infant Jesus. The specific meaning of the cake is no longer associated with the Twelfth Night only being eaten throughout the Christmas season.

CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR TRADITIONS IN PORTUGAL The religious celebration of Christmas begins at midnight on the 24th December with the Roaster Mess. The aim is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church's commitment to this day. The faithful move to the church for the ceremony, then return home where they eat dinner and open gifts. The designation of midnight mess is due to the legend that says that a rooster showed up at this precise time to announce the birth of Jesus Christ, the Christ Child. Christmas Day also holds special traditions. The family must spend this day assembled and share a special meal.

CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR TRADITIONS IN PORTUGAL JANEIRAS The Janeiras is a Portuguese tradition consists of a group of people strolling the streets of a town singing in the New Year. To the modern eye, Janeiras is like Christmas caroling as this tradition involves a group of friends or neighbors going from house to house singing and sometimes playing instruments.

CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR TRADITIONS IN PORTUGAL Traditionally, people go out to the streets to sing Janeiras between December 25 and January 6. While singing, they review the most important events of the year with a spirit of happiness and great humor. Once the song is done the singers are rewarded with chestnuts, nuts, apples, and cured sausages. These days, chocolates are often offered too. The Janeiras tradition varies from region to region.