Christmas in Brazil

Saundz.com asked me to describe Christmas in Brazil. Where can I start? Brazil is such a vast and diverse country – clichés apart, we could say that different regions celebrate Christmas in their own way. What I can say is that Christmas in Brazil has always been the family holiday of the year. In the Brazilian North and Northeast regions I’m aware that some century old traditions, with singers and religious processions looking for the baby Jesus on the streets of the village, etc. In Gramado, south Brazil there is a very beautiful Christmas production by the lake with classical soloists and choir. But here in São Paulo, at least in our family everything is very simple.

Traditionally families get together on Christmas eve, those who are religious go to church for the midnight mass and, then eat supper with lots of turkey, couscous (a Brazilian interpretation can be found…