Brazil in South America is a former Portuguese colony. But now it is a free sovereign country, but many Christmas customs have their roots in the colonial past. Christmas in Brazil will always have a nativity scene or Presepio.
The word origins from the Hebrew word "presepium" which means the bed of straw upon
which Jesus first slept in Bethlehem. The Presepio is common in Bahia, Sergipe, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Maranhao, Ceara, Pernambuco, Piaui and Alagoas. Today a nativity scene during Christmas season is found in most of the Brazilian homes and stores.
The people of Northern Brazil enjoy an adaptation of the folk play Los Pastores or "The Shepherds." In the Brazilian account, there are shepherdesses rather than shepherds and a gypsy who attempts to kidnap the baby Jesus. Christmas in Brazil has Papai Noel (Father Noel). He brings the gifts. According to legend, he lives in Greenland. When he arrives in Brazil, he usually wears silk clothing, as it is too hot. An enormous Christmas dinner, unusual in the hot summertime, includes turkey, ham, colored rice, and wonderful vegetable and fruit dishes.
Devout Catholics attend Midnight Mass or Missa do Galo (a galo is a rooster). The mass has this name because the rooster announces the coming day and the Missa do Galo finishes at 1 AM on Christmas morning. On December 25th, Catholics go to church, but the masses are mostly late afternoon, because people enjoy sleeping late after the dinner (Ceia de Natal) or going to the beach. If you want more of such interesting accounts, do stay connected to
Christmas Carnivals.
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