Yes, Santa Claus, because in Portugal he is the one in charge of bringing presents to all the well-behaved children. “Pai Natal” will leave your gift under the tree or, if you really want to follow the tradition, inside your stocking or shoe hanging on the fireplace.
'Santa Claus in Portugal is known as 'Pai Natal'. He is believed to bring gifts for children on Christmas Eve.
Father Christmas ('Pai Natal') is believed to bring presents to children on Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day. The presents are left under the Christmas Tree or in shoes by the fireplace. However, some people say that the presents are brought by the Baby Jesus rather than Father Christmas.
Portugal is a Catholic country and that is why Christmas is such an important event! There are Christmas traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation and are a symbol of communion, love, and family! Find out some Portuguese Christmas traditions and live this celebration like a local!
The Portuguese celebrate Christmas on December 24 and 25, with Christmas eve being the main celebration. On January 6, another celebration is quite common to bring about the end of the Christmas season.
The sweet, good old Santa, known internationally as Santa Claus, is called "Pai Natal" in Portugal. He also usually gives presents to the children.
Besides setting up the stage of Jesus' birth in nativity scenes, the greatest expression of the original religious side of Christmas in Portugal is materialized on Christmas Eve at midnight, during the rooster's mass. Catholics gather to pray and to kiss the statue of baby Jesus at the supposed time of his birth.
For Christmas Eve, we Portuguese like to have a light dinner, which we call Consoada. On this day, most of us abstain from eating meat, opting instead for fish or seafood dishes. The fish of choice is usually bacalhau, aka salt cod, the most prominent ingredient of Portuguese cuisine.
Each country has their own Christmas traditions, and Portugal is no exception: in Portugal there are all sorts of traditions to enjoy, from the traditional Christmas tree, to big fires, masks, chestnuts and even bananas.
The tradition of eating bacalhau on Christmas Eve has to do with the fact that, following Catholicism, the day before Christmas was a time when religious followers were supposed to abstain from eating meat.
Portugal. Portuguese kids are clearly worried about Santa's drinking and flying, as they leave out prayers for Pai Natal instead of alcohol. Families celebrate with a bolo-rei – a cake full of nuts and crystallised fruit, and might well leave him a slice or two.
Taking part in a 'Secret Santa', known as 'amigo secreto' (secret friend) is popular in Brazil at Christmas.
The exact region is called Korvatunturi, in Rovaniemi – which is in the Finnish part of Lapland and is dubbed by Finland as 'the official home of Santa Claus' online. It's long been imagined Santa and Mrs Claus share a home here, and that his elves make all of the Christmas toys in the area.
If this is calculated per inhabitant, taking purchasing power parity into account, then Portugal ranks 43rd in the list of the richest countries. Inflation in Portugal in 2022 was around 7.83%. Within the EU, the average in the same year was 9.22 percent. In the United States, it was most recently 8.00%.
Today, the vast majority of Portuguese identify as Roman Catholic (81%). However, most consider themselves as non-practising. For many, national and cultural identity is often linked to Catholicism, rather than purely a religious affiliation.
What is Portugal famous for? Wine, for sure; this is where you'll find some of the oldest wine-growing regions in the world. In fact, two of Portugal's wine-growing regions, the Douro Valley and Pico Island in the Azores, are protected as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
3) Portuguese
Children in Portugal call Santa Claus 'Pai Natal'. He is believed to bring presents on Christmas Eve either under the tree or in shoes by the fireplace.
Like many other countries, Christmas is a big affair in Portugal, filled with food, laughter, and more food! Boas festas! or Feliz Natal! means 'Merry Christmas! ' in Portuguese.
Portuguese dishes include meats (pork, beef, poultry mainly also game and others), seafood (fish, crustaceans such as lobster, crab, shrimps, prawns, octopus, and molluscs such as scallops, clams and barnacles), vegetables and legumes and desserts (cakes being the most numerous).
Probably the most popular tradition in Portugal to celebrate New Year's Eve revolves around a tiny dried grape. At the stroke of midnight, the Portuguese begin eating their 12 raisins to represent the 12 months. One raisin is traditionally eaten at each stroke of the clock.
Many restaurants in resorts also close on the evening of the 24th. However, on the 25th most restaurants are open for business, although advance booking is recommended. Business, services and supermarkets are generally closed on the 25th. The 26th of December, Boxing Day, is not a public holiday in Portugal.