Escola Secundária/3 de Castro Daire

2008/2009

Portuguese Portuguese Christmas Christmas TraditionsTraditions

Project Socrates Comenius

• Christmas is one of the most important festivities in Portugal, that has a great religious character, although the importation of other typical celebrations of countries like England and Germany has contributed to modify the Christmas in Portugal.

• In Portugal Christmas is the feast of the family. On Christmas Portuguese people put the problems away and stay with their parents, grandparents and other relatives.

Christmas Ornaments and Christmas Ornaments and SymbolsSymbols

• The crib

• Presents

• Colourful balls

• Christmas Tree

• Holly

• Star on the top of the Christmas Tree

““Consoada”-Christmas Consoada”-Christmas suppersupper

On Christmas Eve, 24th December a special Christmas supper is served. It is called the “Consoada”. It is:• Codfish (“bacalhau”), generally cooked with vegetables and potatoes. No meat is eaten on this day. • The dessert: “Rabanadas” (bread fritter), “Filhóses” (pumpkin fritters) and “Aletria” (vermicelli). • Green or red wine with dry fruits (dry nuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts, dry figs…)

Midnight MassMidnight Mass• It’s a religious Christmas celebration at midnight of 24th December. • The aim is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. • All religious people go to the Church and attend the ceremony. After that they return to their homes where they open the presents. • This mass is also called the mass of the rooster because there is a legend which says that a rooster sang to announce the birth of Jesus Christ.

Christmas DayChristmas Day• The family gather and have a special meal:

- A Christmas lunch or supper varies according to the region of the country.

- The foreign customs have imposed stuffed or baked turkey.

-Once again the traditional desserts like the ones mentioned before have an important role.

““Bolo Rei”Bolo Rei”• “Bolo Rei” is a circular cake with dry fruits which

was eaten on the 6th of January. But nowadays it is eaten on Christmas eve and Christmas day.

• Inside of the cake you could find a small gift and a broad bean but nowadays they are forbidden. If someone found the first, it was seen as a sign of good luck. The person who found the broad bean had to buy the next “bolo rei”.

Work done by:

•Diogo Carvalhas 10ºA

•Joana Louro 10ºA

•Rafael Carvalho 10ºA