Christmas Traditions: talking about those special bits that make Christmas so perfect...

1. Christmas Holyday
(Natal)
Christmas in Portugal

2. Christmas Hollyday
(Natal)
• Christmas is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ
and a widely observed holiday, celebrated generally on December
25
• The traditional Christmas meal in Portugal is eaten during the
evening of Christmas Eve and consists of codfish with green
vegetables and boiled potatoes. This is normally followed by
shellfish, wild meats or other expensive foods.
• After the meal, people go to church for the
“Missa do Galo” or “Mass of the Rooster”
service. During the service an image of baby
Jesus is brought out, and everyone queues up to
kiss it. It is then put in the nativity scene (the
presépio) that every church will have. After the
service people return home, and open their
presents.

3. Tradicional Meals:
• Codfish with green vegetables and boiled potatoes.

4. Tradicional Meals:
• Cabrito assado - roasted goat

5. Desserts:
• king cake (bolo rei) a beautifully decorated fluffy fruitcake.

6. Desserts:
• Rabanadas- (golden slices), known as french toast - slices of pan bread,
soaked in egg with sugar, fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar and
cinnamon.

7. Author:
• Pedro Marques