Brazilians observe Christmas, or “Natal,” as the festival is called there, with rich customs. Christmas falls in the midst of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. A lot of Brazilians go on vacation just after Christmas since it’s an official holiday. Most Brazilian celebrations includes gift exchange such as the “Amigo Secreto” or “Amigo Oculto” Secret Santa celebration. When Santa Claus, or “Papai Noel” (originally Père Noël in French), arrives, the kids await him and put socks out fofr him to exchange for gifts. On Christmas Eve, Brazilian families and friends gather for a feast, music, and late-night chats. Most people take it easy on the 25th and eat whatever is left over from the feast that day.
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Around 65% of Brazil is Catholic
Since around 2/3 of the country is Catholic, this translates to 140 million people. Christmas is most celebrated by Catholics as it originally celebrates the birth of Jesus and the fact that Brazil is the most Catholic nation in the world has a large impact on the way they celebrate this holiday. During Portugal‘s long reign over Brazil, many Portuguese cultural practices found their way into Brazilian Christmas customs. “Missa do Gallo” (the rooster’s service) is a midnight service that many citizens attend on Christmas Eve. On the evening of the 24th and 25th, after the service, families assemble for the “supper.”
Christmas Activities in Brazil
- Beach Visits: Brazilians choose to spend the 25th enjoying the beach, swimming, and sunbathing in coastal regions where families may get together at one beach for a summer vacation. Celebrating Christmas in the summer means plenty of outdoor activities like swimming and barbecue.
- Secret Santa: During Christmas, Brazilians take part in “Amigo Secreto”. A great way to save time and money without sacrificing anyone’s gift-giving abilities is to have everyone in a group buy a present for another individual. This takes place during a gathering or on Christmas Eve, and no one knows who their secret buddy is until after the presents have been given.
- Singing Christmas Songs: A popular Brazilian Christmas song is “Noite Feliz,” a translation of “Silent Night” into Portuguese. Church choirs and city streets alike typically perform this tune. “Então é Natal” (a cover of “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono), “Sino de Belém” (a cover of “Jingle Bells”), and “Boas Festas” (Happy Holidays) are other well-known Christmas songs in Brazil.
- Fireworks and Trees: Fireworks on Christmas Eve and the illumination of major streets with Christmas lights are two Christmas traditions in Brazil. Some towns also adorn their major avenues with Christmas lights, while Rio de Janeiro’s Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon hosts a floatable tree. With a height of 230 feet and more than 900,000 LED lights, this tree surpasses all others on the globe while weighing 250 tons.
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Christmas Traditions in Brazil
“Presépio”
As a result of being Catholic, Nativity scenes, or “Presépio,” are a very popular decoration for Brazilian homes and churches in northeastern Brazil, and they were brought to the region in the 17th century by a Franciscan priest called Gaspar de Santo Agostinho. Saint Nicholas is known as “Papai Noel” and “Bom Velhinho” (Good Old Man) in the country.
Shoes Beside the Tree
Even though Brazil has a very warm Christmas, many Brazilians nevertheless adorn their homes with plastic trees and pictures of Papai Noel coming in snow. When Papai Noel comes on Christmas Eve, kids put their shoes beside the tree for Santa to fill them with gifts, and this is similar to the Western tradition of putting out stockings.
Keeping It a Secret
One common Brazilian custom is the “amigo secreto” (secret buddy) gift exchange, which is similar to the American “Secret Santa” tradition. People use a false name to give each other modest presents during the month of December, and then on Christmas Day, they come clean.
Artificial Snow
The Brazilians take great pride in their Christmas decorations, which include trees, Papai Noel figurines, stockings, and snowmen. Even though it is summer in Brazil around Christmas season, they utilize artificial snow to create a wintery mood.
Putting on Crimson Attire
During the Christmas season in Brazil, many people choose to wear red. They wear red shirts, skirts, or accessories. Saint Nicholas, a bishop from Greece in the 4th century, was known for his red robes as he distributed presents to the impoverished, particularly children. Another legendary character, “Father Christmas” in English folklore, had his green robes transformed into red throughout the centuries.
Christmas at the Beach
Average daily temperatures at Christmas in Brazil are 85°F (which is 72°F at night). The warmer weather in Brazil makes Christmastime fine for outdoor pursuits like swimming, grilling, and other water sports. This is similar to Christmas in Australia.
Christmas Letters
Reflecting the country’s Catholic nature, Brazilian kids don’t forget to send letters to Papai Noel. Their parents remind them that they need to be good stewards of the gifts they receive, and the parents put the presents at the foot of the tree on Christmas Eve while informing their children that Papai Noel has fulfilled their wishes.
Family Gatherings
In Brazil, the 24th and 25th of December are prime times for family reunions. A Brazilian Christmas meal means family gatherings and gift-giving. For the record, the average household size in Brazil is around 2.77 people, according to GlobalData (which is still 3.13 people in the United States).
Midnight Service
A midnight liturgy called “Missa do Gallo” (Rooster’s liturgy) is very popular in Brazil since the country is mostly Catholic. Its name comes from the rooster that crows at dawn on Christmas Day. The mass concludes at 1 o’clock on Christmas morning. On Christmas Day, people go to church again, this time in the afternoon. Fireworks shows and electric light displays styled like Christmas trees are commonplace after the Missa do Gallo in larger towns and cities.
Visiting the Malls
One distinct Christmas tradition in Brazil is visiting the malls during the holiday since they are often elaborately decorated for this occasion. As the Christmas season approaches, Brazilians visit public squares and retail centers to capture images of the festive decorations. The best-decorated malls are usually the most profitable during this period.
Christmas Decorations in Brazil
- Christmas Trees: Like those in other nations, Brazilians decorate their Christmas trees with tinsel, decorations, fairy lights, and baubles. But a lot of Brazilians also purchase plastic trees to decorate them with fake snow to make it seem like winter outside.
- Palm Trees: Brazilians put a tropical spin on Christmas by adorning palm trees with light ornaments to emphasize the tropical environment they live in.
- Santa Claus and Snowmen: Snowman figurines are well-liked in Brazil. Many Brazilian houses feature Santa Claus figurines and stockings.
- Christmas Scenes: Nativity scenes, or “Presepios,” are popular Christmas decorations.
- Festive Lights: In Brazil, people love to decorate their houses, streets, and public areas with lights.
Christmas Meals in Brazil
The traditional Christmas dinner in Brazil is known for its array of delicacies.
- Dinner Entrees: Most Brazilian households serve roasted ham, pork tenderloin, turkey, and chicken at Christmas.
- The Appetizers: Salapicão, a chicken salad, farofa, seasoned manioc flour, and white rice with raisins are common side dishes at Christmas in Brazil.
- Sweet Things: French toasts, panettone (an Italian Christmas bread), rabanada (a variation on French toast prepared with a specific bread), and filhoses (a Portuguese cake-doughnut-like dish) are the most beloved Brazilian Christmas sweets.
- Various Customs: Many families also have a large lunch together on Christmas Eve, usually at 10 o’clock. Rice cooked with raisins and a dollop of farofa, or seasoned manioc flour, accompany the turkey, ham, salads, and fresh fruits that make up this special dinner.
History of Christmas in Brazil
From the entrance of the Portuguese in 1500 until Brazil was raised to the status of a kingdom in union with Portugal as the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves in 1815, this historical era is known as Colonial Brazil (Portuguese: Brasil Colonial). Since Portugal controlled Brazil for more than 300 years, the Portuguese left a mark on Brazilian Christmas traditions.
A number of Brazil’s Christmas customs have their roots in Portuguese heritage; some of these traditions have survived to this day, while others have evolved in response to local circumstances. A Franciscan monk called Gaspar de Santo Agostinho brought the Nativity Scene, or “Presépio,” to Portugal in the 17th century, and it has since become a beloved tradition.
Their nativity scenes feature the Three Magi, the shepherds, the Holy Family, and the animals housed in the stable. The Christmas play “Os Pastores” (The Shepherds), which is reminiscent of Mexican plays, is another Portuguese tradition in Brazil.
