How to Celebrate a Brazilian Christmas

While Christmas traditions in Brazil are sometimes not all that different from those in the United States, most of Brazil sizzles in December, so Santa has to exchange his fur suit for something more comfortable as he delivers presents.

Things You'll Need

• Christmas Gifts
• Christmas Tree Lights
• Christmas Tree Ornaments
• Christmas Trees
• Nativity Scenes
• Tree Stands
• Turkeys

Instructions

1. Display a Christmas tree in your home and decorate it with ornaments and lights.

2. Attend a performance of "Los Pastores" ("The Shepherds"), which depicts the Nativity.

3. Set up an elaborate Nativity scene - called a "presépio" in Brazil - and plan to leave it up until January.

4. Expect "Papai Noel," or Father Christmas, to visit your house with gifts for the children.

5. Serve a special Christmas meal that includes dishes such as turkey, chicken, ham, rice, beans, mashed potatoes, and fresh and dried fruits. Adults generally drink wine or beer.

6. Attend church on Christmas Eve, if this is an important religious tradition for your family. Many Catholics attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve, or attend mass on the afternoon of Christmas Day.

7. Open gifts after the main meal on Christmas Eve, or after breakfast on Christmas morning.

8. Plan a large breakfast on Christmas morning. Arrange to open gifts, go to church, watch fireworks or simply relax on Christmas Day.

Tips & Warnings

• The Christmas feast is often eaten on Christmas Eve - sometimes at midnight - with a smaller meal served on Christmas Day.

• Firecrackers are lit on Christmas Day, as well as on New Year's Eve.

• In Brazil, "Boas Festas" means Merry Christmas.

• Brazil is a large, cosmopolitan country made up of many ethnic and cultural groups, so Christmas traditions are diverse and cannot be generalized. The above are simply a few examples of local traditions that may or may not be appropriate for your personal celebration of Christmas.

Resources

• Mail Santa Claus
• Christmas Recipes