| Christmas in Brazil
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Enjoy the flavor of the festive season with 123Christians offering information on Christmas in Brazil. A former Portuguese colony, many of the Brazilian Christmas customs originate
from this heritage. One tradition in northeastern Brazil is to create a
nativity scene or Presépio. The word originates from the Hebrew presepium - the bed of straw - upon which Jesus first slept in Bethlehem. The Presépio was introduced in the | |
17th century, in the city of Olinda by a Franciscan friar. Nowadays presépios are set up in December and displayed in churches, homes, and stores.
The people of the north enjoy the folk play Los Pastores (The Shepherds) in which, there are shepherdesses rather than shepherds and a gypsy who attempts to kidnap the Christ Child. Papai Noel is the gift-bringer in Brazil. He wears silk clothing due to the summer heat. A huge Christmas dinner, in the hot summertime, includes turkey, ham, colored rice, and vegetable and fruit dishes.
Devout Catholics often go to Midnight Mass or Missa do Galo. A galo is a rooster, which announces the coming day and the Mass finishes at 1AM on Christmas morning. On December 25th, the masses are mostly conducted in the late afternoon, because people sleep late. Decorations include fresh flowers from the garden. Fireworks and Christmas trees are seen against the night skies in Brasilia, San Paolo, and Rio de Janeiro. Have a blast of a Christmas with
123Christians.
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