Most people, especially Catholics, will go to a Midnight Mass service or Missa do Galo (Mass of the Roster). Having a multicultural population, the festivities in the country are influenced by ethnic ways. Christmas decorations in the country involve setting up Christmas trees in individual homes and adorning them beautifully with decorative items such as lights, plastic balls and glass balls.
The observance of Christmas around the world varies by country.
Taking part in a 'Secret Santa', known as 'amigo secreto' (secret friend) is popular in Brazil at Christmas. Christmas plays called 'Os Pastores' (The Shepherds), like the plays in Mexico, are also popular. According to legend, he lives in Greenland and resembles Santa in many ways.
The food eaten in Brazil (specially in the South states) during Christmas came from Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and other countries. Brazil is home to a surfeit of mixed cultures and a diverse population.
Many Brazilian Christmas traditions come from Portugal as Portugal ruled Brazil for many years. After the Missa do Gallo there are often big firework displays and in big towns and cities there are big Christmas Tree shaped displays of electric lights. Come January and they are dismantled along with the Christmas trees and lights. The less fortunate have rice with chicken or with beans. - www.whychristmas.com. With multifarious customs and rituals, Christmas in Brazil is in fact, very unique and extremely traditional, though the source of this festival was inspired and influenced by immigrants and foreigners. They are set-up in churches and homes all through December. Since, Christmas is regarded as one of the most important festivals around the world; the Brazilian ethos is also influenced by the festivities of the West.
The dishes are - The most popular Christmas song in Brazil is 'Noite Feliz' (Silent Night). On Christmas day, people might go to church again, but this time the services are often in the afternoon. With the high temperatures and the absence of snow, the Christmas in Brazil, may not seem like Christmas at all!
See more ideas about Brazil, Christmas, Around the worlds. © 2000 - 2020 James Cooper | About the site | Cookies & Privacy | Site Map | Other Links | Support | Website logistics by LetterBlock | Proud Affiliate of the Merry Network, whychristmas?com answers your Christmas questions! Everything is served with rice cooked with raisins and a good spoon of "farofa" (seasoned manioc flour.) Brazilian Christmas Feast In Brazil, the Christmas feast is a hushed affair, and is usually served on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, people reveal who their amigo secreto was! The Brazilian Christmas dinner itself is not served at lunch time on December 25th like in the US, UK and some other countries, but late at night on Christmas Eve with celebrations spilling over into the early hours of Christmas morning.
In the Brazilian versions of the play, there's also traditionally a shepherdess and also a woman who tries to steal the baby Jesus! In Brazil, Santa Claus is called Papai Noel & Bom Velhinho (Good Old Man). People in Brazil, have now adopted Christmas as their own festival, tweaking the rituals and customs for more distinctiveness. The lunch on Christmas day is also special and after that some people go to relatives and friends houses to visit. The mass normally finishes about 1.00am.
This custom is common in places of north eastern Brazil like Bahia, Sergipe, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraiba, Maranhao, Ceara, Pernambuco, Piaui and Alagoas. Brazilians celebrate Christmas in some very Americanized ways, but they also bring the diverse flavor of their varied ethnic backgrounds to the holidays by following customs and traditions of Portugal, Italy, and others.
This gift-giver of children is depicted as wearing a red fur coat with boots and carrying a bag full of presents. He is believed to secretly leave gifts at the house of every good child on Christmas Day. Scroll further to learn and understand more about the customs, traditions and celebrations associated with Christmas in Brazil.
Children eagerly wait for 'Papai Noel' to bring them gifts every year. As a natural consequence, the festivals celebrated in the country began to be observed in diverse ways and influenced by different traditions that these people brought with them. in December you get twice the normal amount of pay for that month! Common customs include, creating nativity scenes, also known as 'Presepio', and enjoying folk plays based on the shepherds, known as 'Los Pastores'. Nativity Scenes, known as Presépio are very popular. In some regions the feast starts on Christmas Eve around 9 pm, while at other places it is eaten at midnight with the children being served first.
If Papai Noel finds your sock, he'll exchange it for a present! The idea is to help boost the economy around Christmas. In Brazil, Christmas is one of the most important festive days, or "dia de festas". Sometimes children leave a sock near a window. Christmas in Brazil is one of the most important festivals and is often known as 'dia de festas'. As a former Portuguese colony, they have retained some of the Christmas customs of their former masters. These "electric trees" can be seen against the night skies in major cities such as Brasilia, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro throughout the season.
Epiphany, when people remember the Wise Men visiting Jesus, is widely celebrated in Brazil.