In Portugal, Christmas traditions include decorating with trees, nativity scenes, and lights. Families have a special meal called "Consoada" on Christmas Eve consisting of codfish and potatoes. On Christmas Day, people attend midnight mass and exchange gifts in the morning. Traditional desserts are served throughout the celebrations, which continue until Epiphany on January 6th.

1. Christmas in

2. As Catholicism is the main religion in
Portugal, Christmas is about
remembering the birth of Jesus and
being kind to other
But it is also a time for gift
giving, family and friend
gatherings, and yummy
meals!
In our country Christmas traditions are
not very different from those in most
European countries.
But each culture adds a tiny different
flavour to these celebrations.

3. CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
The Christmas season
starts at advent and ends
on January 6th ("Dia de
Reis" or King's Day).
Our houses are decorated
with Christmas
decorations, including the
Christmas tree, with
baubles, tinsel, angels and
lights...

4. NATIVITY SCENE
Setting up the crib is a major Christmas tradition in
Portugal.
The crib is a scene showing the birth of Jesus Christ.
Some families only display the
three main figures: Infant
Jesus, Virgin Mary and St.
Joseph.
The figure of Infant Jesus is
usually placed in the crib after
midnight mass.

5. NATIVITY SCENE
Others create large scenes
with other figures like the
Three Wise Men, the
shepherds and the
sheep, angels and
beautiful landscapes with
lakes, hills and rivers.

6. “CONSOADA”
On Christmas Eve, families get
together and have a meal called
"Consoada”.
This family dinner consists of codfish
with cabbage and boiled potatoes,
codfish
cabbage potatoes
olive oil

7. CHRISTMAS DESSERTS
Christmas desserts vary from region to region but include:
aletria
sweet rice (vermicelli pudding)
(rice pudding) filhoses
(pumpkin fritters)

8. CHRISTMAS DESSERTS
Bolo Rei
or King Cake, a cake with
candied fruit, raisins and nuts.
mexidos
a pudding of walnuts,
hazelnuts, almonds, raisins and
bread

9. CHRISTMAS DESSERTS
coscorões
(fried rolled pastry sprinkled
rabanadas with sugar and cinnamon)
(Portuguese "French toast”)

10. “ALMINHAS A PENAR”
According to tradition the table shouldn’t be cleared:the
dishes should be left unwashed and the leftovers should
remain on the table overnight.
Tradition says that these
leftovers are a gift of food for
the "alminhas a penar" or the
souls of the dead. In return we
hope good fortunes for the
coming year.

11. MISSA DO GALO
After the meal, people go to
church for the 'Missa do Galo'
or 'Mass of the Rooster'
service. It starts at about
midnight.
After the service people return
home, place the figure of Infant Jesus
in the crib, open their presents and
enjoy some more Christmas desserts.

12. CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
In Portugal children are
told that they receive
the gifts from baby
Jesus who is the helper
of Santa.
The presents are left under the Christmas tree
or in the "sapatinho“ shoe, by the fireplace.

13. CHRISTMAS LOG
Another important detail of
Christmas Day is the burning
of a Christmas log ( cepo de
Natal in Portuguese). The
flame of the log is supposed to
burn all day.
Some people keep the ashes to burn along
with pinecones during storms. According to
tradition, this will protect your house from
being struck by a lightning.

14. CHRISTMAS DAY
On Christmas
Day, families gather
again for lunch and they
usually eat stuffed turkey
and farrapo velho.
Traditional desserts
follow.
Farrapo velho is a dish made of the
leftovers of the “consoada”
The leftovers of codfish, potatoes
and cabbage are fried together with
olive oil and garlic.

15. JANEIRAS
The Janeiras consist of a group of people going from
house to house singing in the New Year and sometimes
playing traditional musical instruments.
Traditionally, people go out
to the streets to sing
Janeiras between December
25 and January 6.
The singers are rewarded with chestnuts,
nuts, apples, and cured sausages. These
days, chocolates are often offered too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlRSh-IaWmw

16. NEW YEAR’S EVE
On New year’s eve there
are a lot of social
gatherings, during which
people dance, eat, drink
and watch fireworks.
As a part of a New Year’s Eve
tradition is the eating of 12
raisins, representing one wish for
each month of the coming year.
Doing so, it is believed our wishes
will be fulfilled.