How do Brazilians celebrate Christmas?

Brazilians love a reason to celebrate, and Christmas is no different. The Christmas season in Brazil is full of colour an music, celebrated during the country’s summer, full of colour, music, and family traditions. Unlike in countries where Christmas is associated with snow, Brazilians enjoy sunny days, beach gatherings, and outdoor festivities alongside traditional holiday rituals. Christmas is a public holiday on 25 December, so most people have the day off. Many businesses slow down in the days between Christmas and New Year, though shops and restaurants in major cities often remain open.

The holiday season blends Brazil’s Catholic heritage with its own local traditions. Religious observances such as attending Missa do Galo (Midnight Mass) and setting up nativity scenes (presepios) sit alongside secular traditions like waiting for Papai Noel (the Brazilian Santa Claus) and organising beach days with family and friends. Decorations, charity events, community meals, and local performances are also common.

The festive spirit continues well beyond 25 December, flowing seamlessly into New Year celebrations and making the holiday season in Brazil a long, lively period that mixes religious, cultural, and social traditions.

Christmas Eve (Noite de Natal) Celebrations

In Brazil, the main Christmas celebration happens on the evening of 24 December, known as Noite de Natal. Families gather for a festive dinner, often starting late in the evening and lasting until after midnight. The meal is a central part of the celebration and can include roasted turkey, ham, farofa, rabanada, and seasonal fruits, varying slightly depending on the region. Children eagerly await Papai Noel, who is said to bring gifts at midnight, and it is common for families to exchange presents either before or after dinner.

Religious observance remains an important part of the evening. Many families attend Missa do Galo (Midnight Mass) at local churches. In São Paulo, the Catedral da Sé holds large services with live music, while in Brasília, the Catedral Metropolitana draws crowds for its modern architecture and midnight ceremonies. Smaller towns and cities also host Midnight Mass and often feature live nativity scenes, creating a festive atmosphere for the community.

After the service and dinner, celebrations often continue late into the night with music, fireworks, and socialising. In beach towns like Rio de Janeiro or Florianópolis, some families take the festivities outdoors, enjoying bonfires or gatherings on the sand. While Christmas Day itself is quieter, the energy of Christmas Eve sets the tone for the festive period, blending religious tradition with family, food, and community fun.

Unique Brazilian Christmas Traditions

Christmas in Londrina, Brazil

Traditional Brazilian Christmas Food

Ceia de Natal is the Christmas Eve dinner that takes place late on 24 December and is the main Christmas event in Brazil. In many households the meal begins close to midnight, followed by the exchange of gifts and the arrival of Papai Noel. Regional variations are common, with seafood and local produce more common in northern states, and European influenced dishes like roast turkey more common in the south.

Typical Ceia de Natal dishes:

• Turkey (Peru assado): Roasted turkey, mainly common in southern Brazil due to European influence.

• Baked ham (Presunto assado): Glazed and baked ham, often served as the centerpiece.

• Tender: Smoked or pre-cooked pork, similar to ham, usually baked with fruit or sweet glaze.

• Pernil: Slow-roasted pork leg, seasoned with garlic and herbs.

• Lombo: Roasted pork loin, often served with fruit or light sauces.

• Salpicão: A cold chicken salad mixed with vegetables, apple, and sometimes raisins, dressed with mayonnaise

• Salada de maionese: Potato salad mixed with mayonnaise, vegetables, and sometimes eggs or peas

• Salada de bacalhau: Salted cod salad, typically combined with onions, peppers, olives, and olive oil.

• Arroz natalino: Christmas rice, often cooked with raisins, nuts, vegetables, or small pieces of meat.

• Farofa natalina: Toasted cassava flour dish, often mixed with bacon, onions, eggs, and nuts, served as a side.

• Roast vegetables: Potatoes, mandioca, or carrots are common choices

• Pavê: A layered dessert made with biscuits, cream, condensed milk, chocolate, or fruit

• Rabanada: Brazilian-style French toast, sweetened and sometimes sprinkled with cinnamon or sugar

• Panettone: Sweet bread loaf with dried fruits, traditionally eaten during the Christmas season

Christmas Music in Brazil

Music is an essential part of the Christmas atmosphere in Brazil. Traditional international carols are often sung in Portuguese, such as Noite Feliz (Silent Night), Bate o Sino (Jingle Bells), and Feliz Natal para Todos (We Wish You a Merry Christmas), especially in churches, schools, and family gatherings.

Alongside these, Brazilian musicians frequently create local versions of carols with samba, bossa nova, or sertanejo rhythms, giving the music a distinctly Brazilian flavour. Some original Brazilian Christmas songs have also emerged, reflecting summer, family, and beach gatherings rather than snow or winter. Cities and towns host public concerts, community performances, and choir shows.

Festivals like Natal Luz in Gramado feature music ranging from classical carols to theatrical, upbeat performances with regional instruments, blending traditional and uniquely Brazilian elements.

Christmas Markets

For shoppers and visitors, Christmas markets and fairs appear in many cities. In São Paulo, Avenida Paulista and Parque Ibirapuera host seasonal stalls selling decorations, gifts, and seasonal treats like rabanada and panettone. In Rio de Janeiro, markets pop up in the Lagoa area and near Copacabana, combining shopping with music and festive lights. Southern towns like Gramado and Canela hold larger, European-style Christmas markets as part of the Natal Luz festival, featuring crafts, food, and live performances.

Where to Celebrate Christmas in Brazil

Christmas celebrations can be found across Brazil, from major cities to small towns, each offering its own unique atmosphere.

Natal Luz, Gramado:

Christmas display at Natal Luz in Gramado, Brazil

One of the best places to celebrate Christmas in Brazil is in the towns of Gramado and Canela in Rio Grande do Sul. These known for the Natal Luz festival, a month-long celebration of lights, music, parades, and European-style Christmas markets. Visitors can enjoy craft stalls, live shows, fireworks, and large-scale nativity displays.

Christmas markets in Sao Paulo

In São Paulo, Avenida Paulista is famous for its elaborate Christmas lights, while Parque Ibirapuera hosts seasonal markets selling decorations, gifts, and festive treats like rabanada and panettone. Shopping centres such as JK Iguatemi and Cidade Jardim also put on elaborate displays and host small performances.

Churches

Catholic churches play a central role in Christmas celebrations. In São Paulo, the Catedral da Sé hosts Midnight Mass with live music and nativity scenes. In Brasília, the Catedral Metropolitana attracts large crowds for its modern architecture and festive Midnight Mass. Many smaller towns also feature Midnight Mass and live nativity performances, allowing locals and visitors to experience the religious traditions of the holiday.

Christmas on the beach, Rio de Janeiro

Beachside celebrations are common in cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Florianopolis, where families enjoy Christmas Eve outdoors. Some communities organise bonfires, fireworks, and gatherings on the sand. In Rio de Janeiro, areas around Copacabana and Lagoa are decorated with lights, and some public squares feature large Christmas trees and community performances.

Alone for Christmas?

Brazilians are famously welcoming during the holidays, so if you’re on your own this year, you might be invited by local friends to join their family celebrations. Another option is to book a hostel that is hosting a community lunch or dinner, where you can meet fellow travellers. If you’d like to attend church services or other religious events with someone who shares your faith, using a Christian dating app can be a great way to connect with like-minded people.

More resources for planning your trip to Brazil

• Find cheap bus, ferry, and private transfer tickets on Bookaway, where you can make reservations ahead of time from abroad. Or, rent a car and give yourself the freedom to explore at your own pace.

• Find your perfect accommodation on Booking.com, with thousands of options ranging from luxury hotels to budget-friendly backpacker hostels

• You're not ready to travel until you have travel insurance. I recommend Safety Wing to my friends, family, and anyone travelling internationally. Get a free quote

• Forgetting something? Read my packing check-list for Brazil, and my list of 10 things you should do before you travel to Brazil