Along the streets, we can see coloured Along the streets, we can see coloured lights and Christmas decorationslights and Christmas decorations
Recreation of the Nativity sceneIn every house, people re-create the stable where Jesus was born. The Nativity scene is built with moss, straw, vegetation and pieces of pottery at the beginning of
Advent.
Baby Jesus is placed in the Christmas crib only after the midnight Mass (the Mass of the Rooster).
At home, just as in the local church, people find a special place to put the Saviour’s crib
from the nativity.
In Portugal, especially in the North, on the night of the 24th of December, Christmas Eve is
called “consoada”.
Christmas Eve
After the meal,the table is never completely cleaned. Some cakes and dried fruits are left for the
souls.
Before midnight, all the family members go to church to attend
the mass of the rooster which starts at midnight.
In the regions of Bragança, Guarda or Castelo Branco, a Yule log is burned in the atrium of the village church after mass.
People sing and dance around it.It helps keep everyone warm through the
night and to wish family and friends a Merry Christmas.
Portuguese Christmas suffered some influences of other
traditionso One of the influence is the
replacement of the Baby Jesus by Father Christmas in the delivery of the presents.
On the 25th, lunch consists of the traditional “Roupa Velha” (old clothes), made of the
leftovers of the previous day.