The holidays in Brazil are not unlike many other parts of the world, especially where there is a strong Christian tradition as is the case here. It is common to have turkey for Christmas dinner, and fireworks at midnight on the 1st day of the year, but there are a few quirky traditions that are uniquely Brazilian, and that we love!
How Brazilians usually spend Christmas
Christmas Eve > Christmas Day
Most Brazilians celebrate the holiday on Christmas Eve, rather than (or in addition to) Christmas Day. Those who are religious, will go to church in the evening, and then come home to dinner and presents at around midnight or so. Some families will even wait until midnight to have dinner! Christmas Day is usually spent having leftovers for lunch, visiting family and friends, or just lounging around enjoying being around loved ones.
Secret Santa in Brazil
Instead of getting a gift for everyone in the family, many Brazilian families (especially the bigger ones!), will have a secret santa instead. Here we’ll call it “Amigo Secreto,” (secret friend) or “Amigo Oculto,” (hidden friend). It’s always fun trying to figure out who got whom, and who cheated in the selection of whom to gift! Usually a price limit is set, so nobody spends too much more than someone else, and it’s a great way for everyone to get in on the fun.
Nativity Scenery
One thing I’ve noticed is more common in Brazil than other countries I have been in this time of year, is the presence of nativity sets in homes. All families who are Catholic in Brazil will have at least a small set at the base of their tree or sitting in some corner, as part of their Christmas decoration. You’ll also see some sets in shopping malls and city squares decorated for Christmas. Here in Brazil, the religious meaning of the holiday is still much more present than in many other countries where it is celebrated both religiously and as a secular cultural tradition.
Epiphany
Although not country-wide, many parts of the country, especially in smaller towns and villages in the central part of the country, have epiphany celebrations, called “Folia de Reis,” to honor the 3 wise men who visited Christ at his birth. There are processions with music, dancing, costumes, and more, where town dwellers will stop at different homes requesting gifts – usually yummy snacks – and this usually ends up in a town square or church with lots of festivities and music!
The Food!
In Brazil, most of the holiday is set around the dinner table. Different families have different traditions of what to have for a meal, because of our country’s diversity in cultures and traditions. Many have been adapted from European immigrants’ traditions, but there are also unique traditions to each family whether they are from a different region of the country, or background. But almost every Christmas table will have some sort of animal protein and farofa! Farofa is a roasted flour (usually corn or tapioca), mixed with whatever is traditional to the region – eggs, carrots, raisins, etc. It’s served as a side dish, and goes perfectly with rice and turkey or chicken or ham. In my family, we’ll have roasted ham and turkey, farofa, white rice, and a bean dish traditional from my state of Minas Gerais, “feijão tropeiro.” My husband’s family is of Portuguese descent, so they’ll always have a cod fish casserole for the holiday. Since there are many Italian immigrants in Brazil, it’s also common to have a dried fruit panettone on the table to serve with coffee or dessert. The important thing, for those who have the means, is to have lots of food made with love on the table!
To celebrate the season, our team shares their favorite traditions, meals, and all the feels of the holiday season in Brazil.
Polyana
I personally love that it is summer in Brazil. Despite being born in Brazil, I grew up in New England, in the United States, where my holidays were spent freezing. And let me tell you, the whole white Christmas thing is completely overrated! I love the palm trees decorated with string lights in city squares, and wearing white and jumping 7 waves at the beach for good luck in the New Year!
Ana Beatriz
I love rabanada. This is a french-toast like dessert made with day-old bread loaves, that we really only think of having during the Christmas holidays.
Thayana
I love everything about the month of December! It’s my birthday! The warm weather, the Christmas decorations in my hometown (Petrópolis), and most of all, my family’s secret Santa. Here we call it amigo oculto, which means “hidden friend.” My family is so big, it usually takes us an hour and a half to get through the whole process, and it’s always so much fun!
Nathalia
My family is small, so I don’t have big festivities, but we do make lots and lots of food! I love sitting around the table and enjoying all it has to offer around the holidays! Plus, my birthday is on the 23rd of December, so there’s always lots of pre-Christmas festivities with friends and family as well.
