PORTUGAL is a devout Catholic country that is why Christmas here is celebrated in a very traditional, conservative and religious kind of way. Christmas here usually starts four Sundays before Christmas in a rite called the first Sunday of Advent. During this time, each Roman Catholic parish in Portugal will have a prominent family light a candle in a wreath strategically located near the altar of the church so that the whole congregation will see it. The candle remains lit while a mass is going on and of course, it will be extinguished once each mass is finished. The height of the candle is made in such a way that it can be fully consumed during the Christmas Eve mass. Then nine days before Christmas, dawn masses called vigil masses are celebrated each dawn. During Advent, Roman Catholics all over Portugal have their sacrament of confession. For some, this may be the only confession they have with a priest for the entire year. The whole celebration ends in Epiphany or the first Sunday of January after which the Roman Catholic goes back to ordinary days as according to their liturgical calendar.

Yet there are Christmas traditions in Portugal which are not religious but which still persist. Every January 5, children place boxes in the windows of their homes because they believe the spirits of the Three Wise Men will give them tangible gifts. On the other hand, adults in the country will also place boxes in the windows of their homes alongside with their children’s because they believe the Three Wise Men – Melchor, Gaspar and Balthazar – will give them good blessings the whole new year through.

But greeting merry Christmas in Portugal means just greeting them happy holidays. Not all people and Caucasians like you whom you’ll encounter on the streets of Lisbon and Praia da Luz are Roman Catholics just like you. Some are atheists. These are the Dutch expatriates who are living in holiday homes close to the nudist beaches in the country’s Mediterranean coastline. These Dutch expatriates, especially the women, enjoy a little bit of skinny dipping during Christmas Eve especially if it is a moonless night and especially if the Geminids are appearing its once-a-year glory above. While the Geminids are showering above, illumination in the Mediterranean waters are provided by the planktons.

On the other hand, there are also a few Jews living in Portugal because this country is a land of expatriates. The Jews have their own Hannukah celebration at this time of the year and Portugal Jews have a jolly time in concocting kosher menus. Besides, there’s an abundance of lamb and olive oil in the country and a combination of the two will mean a yummy feast during that day. By the way, Hannukah is a rite commemorating the Maccabees’ victory from King Antiochus IV Epiphanes. On the other hand, the Muslims in Portugal also have their own celebration at this time of the year – the Eid ul-Adha.