Portugal’s Christmas Traditions and Festivities

In Portugal, Christmas celebrations are broadly similar to those in other countries. Portuguese use Christmas trees and Santa Claus (Pai Natal) and the parents tell their children that baby Jesus helps Santa with the presents. Families usually set up a Nativity scene (Presépio) with Mary, Joseph, the cow and donkey, the three wise men, but the figure of the Christ Child is usually added to the scene only after the family attends Midnight Mass. Children normally receive their presents at midnight on Christmas Eve, not the next morning.

The consoada is the reunion of the family while they wait for Father Christmas at midnight after dinner on Christmas Eve. The consoada main course is usually boiled bacalhau (codfish), potatoes and cabbage or greens with olive oil. The variety and quantity of desserts is usually enormous. Rice pudding with cinnamon, Rabanadas (very special French Toast), pastries made with syrup or honey called Broas de Mel and Bolo Rei (King’s Cake) are sure to delight anyone with a sweet tooth.

The Bolo Rei has a special place at Christmas celebrations: this very rich wreath-shaped fruitcake covered in crystallised fruits and pine nuts contains a small trinket and a broad bean (fava) – whoever finds the fava must pay for next year’s Bolo Rei. On Christmas Day the Portuguese visit their friends and especially their family and have a big family lunch, normally with roast chicken, lamb or turkey.

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