“Feliz Natal” is Merry Christmas in Brazil. And, well it’s a little different than what people in North America and Europe are used to. First off, for most people the Christmas holidays means summer time and extended holidays from work school and what not. So the formula goes, for those who have the means, Christmas with the family, then take a ride, or catch a bus, or plane, and head to the Northeast for the New Year. If you are Carioca or don’t want to travel far, Rio de Janeiro is a also a great option.

Santa Claus is known as Papai Noel or Father Noel, translated as Father Christmas,  who lives in Greenland and wears silk clothing in Brazil due to hot summer conditions.

Last year Rio had the world’s largest floating Christmas tree in the bay, the spectacle included crazy fireworks exploding out from the tree on Christmas Eve at midnight. Imagine that tree in your living room! I wonder if the original pagans from Europe, the ones who would decorate their wild pine trees with popcorn or what not., would have imagined fireworks exploding from the sides of the trees.

Fire works are a big part of Christmas all over Brazil, I would say more in the rural areas of the Northeast, but also in the cities all over the country. Fireworks can be heard all hours of the day and night (mostly at night, and sometimes all through the night). This pyrotechnic dimension to festivities continues until January 6th, otherwise known as Three Kings Day, which symbolizes the Three Wise Men , taking gifts to The Baby Jesus.

One of the main traditions is the nativity scene with a wooden stable and a bed of straw called the  Presepio. The Presepio, was introduced in the 17th century by Gaspar de Santo Agostinho, a Franciscan friar.

In towns over the Northeast there are lots of traditional plays and dances that cater to a Christmas theme. For example in Pernambuco they have a ‘cultural manifestation’ involving dance, clowns, and a half improvised theater piece called “Cavalo Marinho” or Sea Horse.

Food at Christmas

From the website World of Christmas: Catholics attend Midnight Mass or Missa do Galo that ends at 1 AM on Christmas morning. On December 25th, masses are held at churches for Catholics in the late afternoons so that people can sleep till late or go to beach. Home decorations mostly consist of fresh flowers from the garden. In big cities such as Brasilia, San Paolo and Rio de Janeiro, there are fireworks in the night time. People lit up huge Christmas trees made from electric lights. Folk dancing and singing is quite common. Festivities go on till 6th of January or the Three Kings Day, when the three wise men finally visited Jesus with their gifts.