Christmas in Portugal

Get a nativity scene with Mary and Joseph, Three wise men, a cow, a donkey and baby Jesus! This is an ancient tradition. It can be very simple or very complicated with lots and lots of figurines! In Portugal there was a strong Nativity scene tradition and the ones sculpted by artist Machado de Castro (in the photo) are world famous. I also remember popular nativity scenes displayed in churches with hundreds of clay small figures painted with vivid colors and real moss. Some even had motion! It was the idea of St. Francis of Assis in the 13th Century to re-create the stable where Jesus was born.

Portuguese enjoy decorating Christmas trees. They are on every house, every shop, on city streets. This photo was taken in Lisbon, our capital. Big, big tree as big as building of maybe 16 floors...!

As in many countries some portuguese city streets get nice colorful decorations in the month of December. At 6PM is already night in Winter. And don't forget that we have a milder winter climate! This photo was taken in Braga, a city in the north.

Children are encouraged to ask for presents to Baby Jesus or Santa Claus.Santa is believed to bring presents to children on Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day. Or early in the morning.The presents are left under the Christmas tree or in shoes by the fireplace.

Portuguese celebrate Christmas with a rich table of sweet cakes and biscuits, dry fruits and good wine and liquors. The traditional Christmas cake is 'Bolo Rei' (which means 'King Cake') and is placed in the center of the table. It's a wreath like fruit cake laced with crystallized fruits and pine nuts.There is tiny present inside the cake and a broadbean. The person who finds the broadbean in one slice will pay the next "King Cake"!!
Some of Christmas popular desserts are rice pudding with cinamon, fried desserts, - "filhozes" - pastries made with honey - "broas de mel" -pumpkin fritters - "sonhos".
Rabanadas are also a regular presence at our table. Do you want to try some Rabanadas?

What you must buy:
1baguette loaf of bread - 1 egg - 200 ml (3/4 cup) milk - Olive oil - Sugar and cinnamon
How to prepare it:
1.Cut a baguette into 1 cm (1/2") thick rounds; remove the crusts;
2.Dip into an egg beaten with milk - 1 egg to approximately 200 ml (3/4 c.) milk;
3.Fry in hot olive oil in a skillet for a few seconds on each side;
4.Drain it and then sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon;
5.Eat a lot,forget about diet and wish Christmas never ends!

Traditional Christmas meal takes place in the evening of Christmas Eve. We call it the Consoada. It consists of codfish with sprouts and boiled potatoes and eggs, all sprinkled with olive oil. After it some families eat exquisite meat dishes and traditional sweets.

After dinner meal the tradition for religious people is to go to church for the 'Missa do Galo' or 'Mass of the Rooster' service. After the service people return home to open their presents. This isn't as common as a few years ago but regions in the interior still follow this religious tradition. In the regions of Bragança, Guarda or Castelo Branco, (interior of the country) a Yule log is burned in the atrium of the village church after mass.

On Christmas Day the living room table remains set all day with sweets and dry fruits. People enjoy a lunch together and stay home most of the day enjoying themselves. Roast chicken, lamb or turkey are common meat dish in this day.