So I'm Portuguese and some of my fondest memories of Christmas are from
Portugal, so I figured that is what I would share with you today.
Welcome to Christmas in Lisbon, Portugal.
Pai Natal (Father Christmas) brings the presents on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. The presents are usually left under the tree, or in shoes by the fireplace.
The main meal is on Christmas Eve and it's called the Consoada, it usually consists of the Cod Fish boiled, with potatoes and some sort of greens. After dinner, a lot of people will then go to church for the Missa do Galo (Mass of the Rooster). Usually during the mass, a statue of baby Jesus is brought out and people will line up to kiss it. Then it is placed in the Presepio (Nativity Scene). It's quite a lovely service.
The traditional Christmas decoration in Portugal is the Nativity Scene, a lot of stores will put up elaborate and stunning Nativity scenes on their windows. We used to enjoy going to town just to go look at all of them.
Remember how I said we always have a table with tons of goodies on there? That is what most Portuguese houses will have. Traditional food, cakes, appetizers, nuts and all sorts of things.
One thing we always had and I can never find here in the States are the Christmas crackers. You know what those are right? They would contain some candy and a Christmas hat that we would all put on our heads. In the one photo I shared of us as little kids at Christmas, you can see those hats on our heads. I know I can buy them online but I don't really ever see them in the stores.
The traditional cake for Christmas is the Bolo Rei (King's Cake). It will usually sit right in the middle of the table and inside there is a broad bean (fava) and a little gift. Usually these tiny little trinkets hidden in the cake. If you find the trinket you can keep it, but if you find the bean then you have to buy the cake the following year.
Christmas in Portugal is a big family gathering, a time to sit together and eat good food, catch up and bond. I love the fact that I'm Portuguese and that I can pass these traditions onto my children and hopefully one day when they have children of their own, they will be able to share these with them too.
Welcome to Christmas in Lisbon, Portugal.
Pai Natal (Father Christmas) brings the presents on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. The presents are usually left under the tree, or in shoes by the fireplace.
The main meal is on Christmas Eve and it's called the Consoada, it usually consists of the Cod Fish boiled, with potatoes and some sort of greens. After dinner, a lot of people will then go to church for the Missa do Galo (Mass of the Rooster). Usually during the mass, a statue of baby Jesus is brought out and people will line up to kiss it. Then it is placed in the Presepio (Nativity Scene). It's quite a lovely service.
The traditional Christmas decoration in Portugal is the Nativity Scene, a lot of stores will put up elaborate and stunning Nativity scenes on their windows. We used to enjoy going to town just to go look at all of them.
Remember how I said we always have a table with tons of goodies on there? That is what most Portuguese houses will have. Traditional food, cakes, appetizers, nuts and all sorts of things.
One thing we always had and I can never find here in the States are the Christmas crackers. You know what those are right? They would contain some candy and a Christmas hat that we would all put on our heads. In the one photo I shared of us as little kids at Christmas, you can see those hats on our heads. I know I can buy them online but I don't really ever see them in the stores.
The traditional cake for Christmas is the Bolo Rei (King's Cake). It will usually sit right in the middle of the table and inside there is a broad bean (fava) and a little gift. Usually these tiny little trinkets hidden in the cake. If you find the trinket you can keep it, but if you find the bean then you have to buy the cake the following year.
Christmas in Portugal is a big family gathering, a time to sit together and eat good food, catch up and bond. I love the fact that I'm Portuguese and that I can pass these traditions onto my children and hopefully one day when they have children of their own, they will be able to share these with them too.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteA small note: Santa Claus is a recent tradition. In Portugal, when I was little, the one who brought the gifts on the night of December 24th was the baby Jesus.
Feliz Natal
Celia
We've done Christmas crackers for a while now. My daughter finds them at TJ Maxx I think!
ReplyDeleteWorld Market usually has the crackers in their store. If you have one close by. 😀
ReplyDeleteLovely! Thank you for sharing your Christmas memories, Sandra.
ReplyDeleteWe have Christmas Crackers here, too. They usually get pulled just before we eat our dinner on Christmas day. Xx