Christmas in Portugal

Escola Secundária de Gama Barros

Cacém

Christmas start in Portugal earlier and earlier but 8th December marks its beginning with the Christmas Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

The most part of family set up a Nativity scene (called Presépio), with Mary, Joseph, the cow and the donkey, the three wise men, and lots of other figures .

But everybody has a Christmas tree too; the typical colours are the gold, red and green.

The Crib

Our typical “ Presépio” made of moss and vegetation.

A big Christmas tree in Praça do <comércio, lisbon

Many families attend the Midnight Mass (called "Missa do Galo") on

Christmas Eve. Thereupon, they gather around the table and have supper

(known as "Ceia de Natal” or Consoada.

Midnight Mass or “ Missa do Galo”

Ceia de Natal

Our Christmas foodMain dishes

Codfish with boiled potatoes and cabbage

Typical dish for Christmas Eve supper

Roast turkey for Christmas day lunch

Cabrito de Natal

Octopus

Our delicious desserts!“filhós” made of pumpkin dough

“rabanadas” : french toast

Bolo Rei ( a very rich fruit cake laced with crystallized fruit and pine nuts)

Pumpkin fritters “ sonhos”

Pastries made of honey “

broas de mel”

More Christmas food!

Our Christmas table

Yule log

Rice pudding with cinnamon

And…good appetite!

Christmas presents

The children receive the presents at midnight of 24/25 December or early in 25 th December morning. They put the shoes near the fireplace as a receptacle for the presents andthey believe Santa Claus( Pai Natal in Portuguese) comes down the chimney, during the night, and leaves the presents on their shoes.

Opening the presents!

Christmas at school:

A group of students singing Christmas carols:they can sing

very well

One of our trees

A beautiful snowman made by one of our students!

Some of our postcards!