Like many other parts of the world, December 25 in Brazil means a time of family, religious reflection and a lot of food and drink. Brazil celebrates Christmas in the middle of summer so the days are hot and sunny, giving the festivities a tropical mood. Here is how Brazilians celebrate Christmas.

Brazilians decorate a traditional Christmas tree although it tends to be a plastic one with all the usual fairy lights, baubles and tinsel.
When Brazilians meet for Christmas, it’s usually the whole family from parents and children to cousins, aunts, uncles, second cousins and everyone else that is somehow related. Presents could be expensive. A popular way of gift-giving is a Secret Santa, or Amigo Oculto as it’s known in Brazil.

Santa Claus is the same in Brazil. Papai Noel as he is known in Brazil is believed to come on Christmas Eve with presents for the children and lives in the North Pole. On Christmas Eve people get together with friends during the afternoon and spend the evening celebrating with their family at home. For the evening celebrations, it is usual to get dressed up in smart, new clothes and women will often style their hair and wear makeup. The celebrations continue late into the night with plenty of food, music and drinking.

For many, Christmas food is one of the highlights of the day and in Brazil, it is influenced by many cultures, including Brazil, Italy, Portugal, Spain and, especially in the south of the country, Germany. Christmas dinner includes turkey, vegetables, rice, ham, potato salads, and sometimes lasagne and dishes with cod. The Christmas feast is eaten late at night on the December 24, sometimes around midnight when the main celebrations begin.