Christmas in Brazil for kids is a true celebration of innocence, joy, and magic. It’s a magical time when little ones are immersed in a world of enchantment, filled with sparkling lights, enchanting decorations, and the smell of Christmas food wafting through the air.
It’s a time when imaginations run wild and hearts are filled with hope. From the oldest traditions to the most modern ones, Christmas in Brazil for children is a unique experience, full of unique moments that will remain etched in their memories forever, I can speak for myself, Christmas is the holiday I love the most.
It is in this festive atmosphere that children prepare to celebrate Christmas. They eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus and write their letters full of dreams and wishes. And when the long-awaited Christmas Eve arrives, they go to sleep anxiously so that the Christmas morning they can open their presents under the tree, a lot of laughter and hugs with their entire family.
When I first saw Papai Noel trading his sleigh for flip-flops, I couldn’t believe my eyes—it was like Christmas got a tropical makeover! Growing up, that mix of warm nights, twinkling lights, and sugary treats turned the holiday into something unforgettable for me. Now, as Brazil gears up for another season of festive fun, I’m excited to share how this celebration lights up kids’ faces with pure joy. From playful traditions to tasty surprises, here’s what makes it a blast for the little ones!
Also, if you would like to learn more about holidays in Brazil, later you can read more in-depth about Brazil festivals and holidays here. Now, let’s get back into it.
So, Christmas in Brazil for kids is also a time for family traditions. They help decorate the house, decorate Christmas trees, set up the nativity scene, and prepare delicious Christmas treats alongside their parents and grandparents.
It’s also lovely to see the choirs and theatrical performances. By exploring more about Christmas in Brazil for children, we will discover the typical games of the season, the legends that enchant the little ones, and the values of solidarity and love for others that are celebrated during this very special festivity.
It’s a time of unity, gratitude, and renewed hope, where every smile is a true light that illuminates the Christmas spirit.
Christmas in Brazil for Kids: Christmas Presents
In Brazil, giving gifts during Christmas is a very significant moment in Brazilian culture. Brazilian consumers increase their spending in December. Even during the peak of the pandemic in 2020, retail sales continued to rise, reaching a total of R$37.5 billion (around $7.5 billion) during the Christmas season.
At Christmas time, shopping malls get very busy because many people buy presents for family members, including aunts, uncles, and even second and third cousins. And since there are so many presents, to keep costs down and still exchange gifts, some families opt to play Secret Santa. In Brazil, this practice is called “Amigo Secreto” (Secret Friend) or “Amigo Oculto” (Hidden Friend).
In the “amigo secreto”, all the participants put their names in a basket. Each person then draws a name and is responsible for buying a special gift for the person they have drawn.
On the 24th, everyone gets together with their wrapped presents. One by one, each participant stands up and jokingly describes the person they have chosen, without revealing their name. That way everyone tries to guess who the secret friend is, and then the lucky person gets their present to open, while everyone watches.
Christmas in Brazil for Kids: Santa Claus and His Reindeer
Every year, Brazilian children eagerly await the visit of Santa Claus, although he is called Papai Noel in Brazil.
The little ones anticipate his arrival by leaving stockings for him to exchange for presents. Santa Claus in North America wears a red and white suit with fur trim and drives a sleigh pulled by reindeer.
In Brazil, however, he usually wears his red and white silk clothes to be able to withstand the Brazilian heat, as Christmas in Brazil takes place in the summer. and also in Brazil, we affectionately call Santa Claus the Good Old Man.
Christmas in Brazil for Kids: Christmas Decorations
Many cities decorate their lampposts for the Christmas celebrations, bringing people together with the joy of Christmas. Both public and private decorations include string lights – here in Brazil we call them “pisca-pisca” – and many of the same popular traditional symbols such as Santa Claus, bells, candy canes, and holly.
Christmas trees are artificial because it is not common practice to decorate a natural tree, but some families still have the tradition of going in search of their natural tree at Christmas.
Christmas tree decorations include fairy lights colored balls, angels, and bows. Many people choose to add a touch of winter and finish off their Christmas trees with artificial snow.
According to Brazilian Christmas traditions, Christmas decorations must be removed from the site by Three Kings Day on January 6, the holiday that marks the official end of the Christmas season.
Christmas in Brazil for Kids: Special Christmas Traditions
Many Brazilians are Catholic, so it’s a family tradition to attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve. We Brazilians call this mass ‘Missa do Galo’ (mass of the rooster). The name derives from the concept of the rooster’s crowing marking the dawn of a new day, just as Midnight Mass heralds the official start of Christmas Day, and the birth of the Messiah, Christ’s child.
The Nativity Scene
Many families put together a nativity scene every year. Those with artistic talent can make their own, but it’s also possible to buy them in stores. Unpacking and organizing the figurines becomes an event in many families. This is my favorite part of Christmas, it’s the most time-consuming part, which requires care so that each year surpasses the previous year
Solidarity
Christmas is a time of great solidarity and generosity on the part of the people of Brazil. Many people and organizations run campaigns to collect various items such as food, toys, and clothes to donate to families in need.
Christmas Songs
Christmas songs are an important part of Christmas celebrations in Brazil, and children love them. This is the repertoire of schools at this time of year, the most listened to are “Noite Feliz”, “Bate o Bino”, “Então é Natal” and “Jingle Bells”.
Visiting Santa Claus
In shopping malls, squares, schools, and other public places, it’s common to find decorated areas where children can go to take pictures and give their letters to Santa Claus, in the hope that he will read them and that on Christmas Eve the good old man will bring them the Christmas present that was written in the letter.
Christmas Dinner
In Brazil, it’s a VERY special meal. We have supper on the evening of December 24th, Christmas Eve. Although it can vary according to regions and family preferences, almost everyone has it on this day, there are some traditional dishes, that are common on many Brazilian tables during supper, let’s take a look:
- Roast turkey: Roast turkey is the star of Christmas Day in Brazil. It is usually stuffed with a tasty mixture of farofa, chestnuts, dried fruit, and herbs. Chester, like turkey, roast chester (a hybrid of chicken and turkey) is also one of the most common options for Christmas dinner in Brazil. It is prized for its tender and juicy meat.
- Rice with raisins: white rice is prepared with raisins to add a festive, sweet touch to the dish.
- Farofa: Farofa is a classic Brazilian side dish for Brazilian Christmas dinner, made with cassava flour, butter, bacon, sausage, eggs, and fruit. At Christmas dinner, it’s also common to find farofa made with dried fruit and nuts.
- Salpicão: It’s delicious! It consists of a cold salad made with shredded chicken, mayonnaise, chopped vegetables (such as carrots, peas, and corn), and fruit (such as apples and raisins). Salpicão is a refreshing and colorful dish that can accompany main courses.
- Panettone and Chocotone: These popular Christmas desserts are sweet breads that are widely consumed in Brazil during the Christmas season. Traditional panettone is made with candied fruit, while chocotone is filled with chocolate chips.
- Fruit: Fresh seasonal fruit, such as pineapple, mango, grapes, and cashews, can often be served as a dessert or as an accompaniment to savory dishes.
- Rabanada: Rabanada is a traditional Christmas dessert in Brazil, made with stale bread soaked in milk, eggs, and sugar, then fried until golden brown. It can be sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar for a special touch.
Christmas in Brazil for Kids: Special Activities
Visit a Nativity scene
Many churches build large outdoor nativity scenes. On certain evenings, actors and live animals replace the statues, and choirs can sing Christmas carols. During these live nativity scenes.
Christmas Play
Many communities present Christmas plays, one of which is called ‘The Shepherds’. This play tells the story of the nativity scene, but with an unexpected twist – it involves a shepherdess who tries to steal baby Jesus during her visit. I tell you, it’s worth seeing a Christmas play.
World’s Largest Floating Tree
If you happen to be in Rio de Janeiro during your vacation, visit Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon to see the centerpiece of the city’s famous festival Christmas lights. At 278 feet tall, the display is the tallest floating Christmas tree in the world.
Due to the gigantic size of the Christmas tree, more than 3 million lights are needed to illuminate it, powered by five generators.
The lights run through a series of colors with meanings: orange to symbolize the sunrise, blue to represent the moon, green and gold to match the traditional Christmas colors, as well as multicolored lights.
Christmas Songs
The music is very special. My favorite song is “So It’s Christmas” by Simone. The original Brazilian Christmas songs are just as appreciated here as the world-famous standards, and they are played throughout the Christmas season in public places.
Christmas in Brazil for Kids: Brazilian Christmas Legends
In Brazil, children grow up hearing various legends and stories about Christmas, which are passed down from generation to generation. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular legends
- The Child Jesus in the Manger: This is the main Christmas story that all children have heard at least once in their lives, it tells how Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, simply. It is told to emphasize the religious and spiritual significance of this very important day that we celebrate.
- The Boi-Bumbá: the rich history of the Boi-Bumbá is also sometimes related to Christmas. It tells the story of an ox that comes back to life after being killed and brings joy and celebration to the community.
- The Guiding Star: In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful. It refers to the Star of Bethlehem. This legend tells of the star that guided the Three Wise Men to the place of Jesus’ birth. It’s simply a beautiful story of hope, faith, and divine guidance.
Christmas in Brazil for Kids:
Merry Christmas “Feliz Natal”
At Christmas, the Brazilian children experience a range of emotions and experiences that transcend any other time of the year. They dive into an ocean of enchantment, full of dreams, traditions, faith, and shared joys.
As they eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus, their eyes shine with the promise of gifts and surprises. But beyond the material rewards, Christmas nurtures in children the deep values of family unity, generosity, and compassion. It’s a time when innocence blossoms into gestures of love and solidarity, creating bonds that transcend the boundaries of time.
I personally grew up loving Christmas and eagerly awaiting its arrival, so all the preparation, from setting up the tree to organizing the meal, is very special so that the magic of Christmas can be felt from start to finish.
In this way, Christmas for children in Brazil becomes not just a traditional celebration, but an experience that shapes their memories and values for life
