Christmas in Brazil

by Emily P. Sudhoff

December 10, 2003

About Brazil

Brazil is a big country in South America. Its official name is Federative Republic of Brazil. The capital city is Brasilia. Brazil is 3.2 million square miles in size. The northeast part of the country is hot and dry. In other parts of the north, there are tropical rain forests, where it is hot and wet all year round. In southern Brazil, it can get cold during the winter. Southern Brazil has summer when we have winter. Half of all species of animals live in Brazil.

Figure 1. Map of Brazil. / Figure 2. Flag of Brazil.

Before Christmas

Before Christmas, everyone puts up a Nativity scene, which is called a presepio. A Nativity scene is a set of statues showing what it was like when Jesus was born. For many people in Brazil, this is the most important sign of Christmas.

Figure 3. Nativity scene in Brazil. / Figure 4. An outdoor nativity scene.

Christmas Eve in Brazil

On Christmas Eve, Brazilians have a big Christmas dinner. They have it very late – about ten or eleven o’clock at night. After that they go to midnight mass, which is what Catholics call going to church. Midnight mass on Christmas Eve is called Missa do Galo, or Mass of the Rooster. It is called the Mass of the Rooster because according to legend the rooster that was with the animals in the barn where Jesus was born crowed at his birth. After mass, they stay up all night. They talk to their friends, and drink wine and cafezinho, a strong, sweet coffee.

Figure 5. Mass of the Rooster.

Christmas Day in Brazil

On Christmas Day in Brazil, Brazilian children who did not open their presents on Christmas Eve open them. For many Brazilians, Christmas day is a day to relax and rest.

Christmas Food in Brazil

Turkey is the one of the traditional Christmas foods of Brazil. Farofa is a special stuffing for the turkey. It is made from manioc flour. A manioc is sort of like a potato. Some Brazilian families eat a fish cake, made using cod. Other families eat pork roast.

Santa Claus in Brazil

Santa Claus is called Papai Noel in Brazil. Santa comes in his red suit and big black boots just like he does here, even though in Brazil Christmas is in summer. He doesn’t change clothes for the warm weather. Instead of using a sleigh, he travels to Brazil by helicopter.

Figure 6. Santa Claus getting out of helicopter in Brazil. / Figure 7. Santa Claus in Brazil.

Bibliography

[1] Rebecca A. Lauer, “Christmas in Brazil,” World Book Inc. 1996. ISBN: 0-7166-0891-X.

[2] Tom Streissguth, “Brazil in Pictures,” Learner Publications Company, 2003. ISBN: 0-8225-1959-3.

[3] “We Come From Brazil,” Steck-Vaughn Company, 2000. ISBN: 0-8172-5514-1.

[4] Herbert H. Wernecke, “Christmas Customs Around the World,” The Westminster Press. ISBN 0-664-24258-8.

[5] Marion Morrison, “Country Insights Brazil,” Steck-Vaughn Company, 1997. ISBN: 0-8172-4785-8.

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