Comenius Project EBI Mouzinho da Silveira Corvo Island Christmas Celebration in Portugal

Portugal is a Roman Catholic country with its traditions although some of them are getting lost. For the Catholics, Christmas is the birth of Jesus and people decorate their houses with the crib.

And also have a Christmas tree.

However, not everyone has the crib in their homes. Santa Claus makes part of the Portuguese feast nowadays. It’s him who brings the presents. Children get very excited with the coming of Christmas. There is a two-week holiday from school.

Children and parents decorate their houses, make some sweets, such as biscuits, cream milk, “fatias douradas” (golden bread slices) and prepare for Christmas supper.

Generally families get together on 24 th for supper. They eat boiled codfish with potatoes and cabbage.

Sons and daughters, grandchildren, grandparents, cousins – it is a privileged time for people to join together around the table. The Catholics go to midnight Mass and it is only after it that children open their presents.

On 25 th there is the Christmas lunch and the menu varies. Some eat stuffing turkey, some eat roasted lamb or roasted octopus.

The children play with each other. The adults talk and laugh among themselves. They spend the whole day together. No doubt the time is of joy! Your friends from Portugal !