Christmas in Brazil

Kick off those snow boots, put away your hats, mittens, winter coats and long underwear. Grab your swimsuit and beach towel as we transport you to a tropical Christmas- in Brazil!

Christmas carols fill the air as carolers serenade homeowners oftentimes to Brazil's most favorite carol, Noite Feliz, Silent Night. Brazilians have a Santa Claus figure in Papai Noel, Good Old Man. He wears a light weight fabric suit often made of silk to keep cool in the heat of summer. Similarly, decorations also reflect Brazil's warm climate with fresh flowers picked from their gardens as their Christmas decorations.

As in most countries, Christmas is never complete without the sparkle of a string of lights or two! Families string lights together to form the conical shape of a Christmas tree to brighten up the summer night skies. Many large cities such as the capital, Brasilia, and São Paulo have massive light up tree displays. The floating tree on the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in Rio de Janeiro takes the cake though! Weighing in at 250 tons, this electronic tree was named by the Guinness Book of Records as the Largest Floating Christmas Tree in the World. It’s hard to imagine it could get any bigger but designers kept adding more as the years went on. It boasted more than 3 million lights at its pinnacle. For 19 consecutive years, it was an iconic symbol of the Brazilian Christmas season. With its last appearance in 2019, fans are left to celebrate its history through videos of this marvel here.

With a very diverse population, Brazil’s Christmas traditions are influenced greatly by various cultures including Portugal, as it is a former Portuguese colony. Many Europeans seeking warmer weather have made a home here including those from Germany, Italy, and many more.

Brazil is home to many devout Catholics who attend the Missa do Galo, the Midnight Mass. The mass typically starts on Christmas eve and ends at 1 A.M. on December 25. It is after the Midnight Mass that Brazilian families come together to watch fireworks and toast friends and family with champagne.

Ceia de Natal, Christmas dinner usually features ham, pork, turkey, and other dishes made from vegetables and fresh and dried fruit. Not to forget the must-have, rice with raisins and a special seasoned flour.

One prevalent tradition in Brazil is the creation of a Presepio, a nativity scene. The Presepio comes from the word "presepium", which is Hebrew for bed of straw. This tradition dates back to the 17th Century when it was introduced by Gaspar de Santo Agostinho, a Franciscan friar. Families enjoy seeing these at their churches or create one at their own homes.

A traditional folk play called Los Pastores, the Shepherds, is performed throughout the Christmas season. Interestingly, the Brazilian version features an added character, a shepherdess who tries to kidnap the baby Christ.

We hope this visit to Brazil has brought warmth to your possibly chilly surroundings! No matter the temperature or time or year, we’re thankful for Christmas crafts kits to keep us crafting every day.