Brazil:

Brazilians are a mix of people from many parts of the world, and as a former Portuguese colony, they have many Christmas customs which originate from this heritage. One tradition is to create a nativity scene or Presépio. The word comes from the word "presepium" which means the bed of straw upon which Jesus first slept in Bethlehem. Nowadays, presépios are set up in December and displayed in churches, homes and stores.

Papai Noel (Father Noel) is the gift-bringer in Brazil. According to legend, he lives in Greenland. The idea of this Santa-type character was imported from North America in the 50's. It only became popular as a result of the commercial influences of the late 60's and 70's. Today, Papai Noel arrives in a helicopter at a large soccer stadium in Rio wearing a silk shirt rather than a fur coat.

Besides the traditional Christmas decorations, all over the street and at the mall, the big day is the evening of December 24th. This is when the family gets together for a big meal and to open the presents. There is a very common tradition among friends and families, called “amigo secreto,” which means “secret friend.” At the beginning of December, participants in the game write their name on a piece of paper. Each participant takes a paper without revealing the name of the person on it. Throughout the month, there are exchanges of correspondence among the participants who use “apelidos,” which are fake names. On Christmas, family and friends gather to reveal their secret friends and offer them a special gift.