CHRISTMAS

Photo: Barcelos in Christmas time

Christmas, in our region, is celebrated in a very funny way. The streets are shiny and lively and we can listen to lots of carols. Christmas spirit invades everyone.

At home the family gathers together to celebrate Jesus birth. The family joins to have dinner and to open the presents. Christmas traditional dinner is very appreciated. We have boiled codfish with potatoes and vegetables and stuffed turkey. As dessert we have many traditional sweets like sweet noodles, sweet fried “dreams”, king cake, sponge cake and also some pies, cakes and chocolates ... After dinner we play games and tell stories. The youngest people are euphoric waiting for the presents opening but it only happens after midnight. At midnight we go to the “Cock’s Mess” at church were Jesus birth is dramatized.

On 25 th everybody is tired and wakes up later but the party goes on. At lunch time we have a traditional dish called “Old Clothes”, made with the remaining of dinner.

Then people go home and wait for another party, next year.