Christmas Eve 2025
Date: December 24, 2025 (Wednesday)
Country: Portugal Public Holidays
Description
Christmas Eve in Portugal is a calm, important evening before Christmas Day. It takes place on December 24 each year, the night when families and communities prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
For many people it is a time to pause and reflect on faith, family, and gratitude. The evening carries a sense of closeness and meaning, connecting people to their history and shared beliefs.
The date matters because it leads into Christmas Day, which is a major religious and cultural holiday across the country. Christmas Eve helps mark the end of Advent, the season of waiting and hope in the Christian calendar.
Across Portugal the night is seen as special and respectful. It highlights values like love, togetherness, and remembering what is most important in life. People often use this time to be with those they care about and think about the year that has passed.
Traditions
On Christmas Eve many Portuguese families gather for a big late supper called ceia. They often go to the midnight mass named Missa do Galo first. After church they share food and talk late into the night.
Traditional dishes include bacalhau com todos, a boiled cod with potatoes and cabbage, and sometimes octopus or roast meats. Rich rice and vegetable dishes appear too. For sweets people eat rabanadas, sonhos and aletria. Cake and nuts are common on the table.
Homes display a presepio, the nativity scene, with lights and candles. Families exchange gifts that night or after the meal. Singing together and visiting relatives or neighbors are warm, old customs that make the evening special.
Travel Tips
Many shops and services close early on Christmas Eve in Portugal. Trains and buses run reduced schedules in the evening. Book restaurants in advance. Supermarkets and pharmacies often shut by early evening, so buy essentials earlier in the day.
Public squares and church areas get crowded around sunset. Use taxis or rideshares early because demand spikes. Keep valuables safe and stay in well lit areas. Consider joining community charity events or buying a small local item to support nearby businesses.