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CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN PORTUGAL WITH MARIA TERESA

Beautiful mother of two princesses, Maria Teresa and her two daughters Camila and Maria embody European elegance and family love at its best! Making us travel to their home in Lisboa, they invite us to a delightful Portuguese Christmas tea party! Put on your prettiest gown, widest smile and come with us into a world of refinement and beauty!

Christmas family traditions in Portugal - Mothers share Charlotte sy Dimby blog

Christmas is our favorite holiday of the year! As soon as Halloween is over, the magic of the festive season enters our home and fills every room! We decorate the whole house spreading the joy of Christmas all around us!

Traditions are very dear to us and for the past five years, we have had a very special gingerbread house made. Designing it with the girls is always a fun moment, we pick the style and all the details to have it custom made by the talented @limalimaofestascomcharme! What a joy when the home of our dreams arrives! It's our own little winter wonderland and we enjoy displaying it all throughout December for everyone to admire!

Christmas family traditions in Portugal - Mothers share Charlotte sy Dimby blog - Gingerbread house

We also read Christmas stories every day of November and December. We sit together and escape to fantasy worlds with our favorite characters. Year after year, we add new books and our collection is starting to be quite big!

Christmas family traditions in Portugal - Mothers share Charlotte sy Dimby blog - Christmas books

The festive season in Portugal is a time for family gatherings and delicious meals with close friends. Its highlight is Christmas Eve.

On the night of the 24th, we celebrate the birth of Jesus and open our gifts with our loved ones after a nice family dinner. The 25th is also a family day and celebrations continue.

To give you an insight of a small Portuguese Christmas gathering, we've set the table for tea and made some “Bolo Rei” (King Cake), “Bolo Rainha” (Queen Cake) and “Sonhos” (Dreams) for you! These are our traditional desserts.

The Bolo-rei meaning king cake dates back to the 19th century. Its name is linked to its crown like shape and to the story of the three kings who offered gifts to baby Jesus. Their cake also has a gift. There is a little trinket and dried broad bean hidden inside. The person who receives the gift in his slice will have good luck for the year, he is king! The one who gets the dried broad bean is designated to buy the bolo-rei next year. It is traditionally eaten on January the 6th, on the day of the Kings but also enjoyed during the whole holiday season.

The Bolo-rainha is similar but without the colourful crystalised fruits on top.

Here are the recipes for you to try out : Bolo-rei & Bolo-rainha

Sonhos are another Portuguese classic. It's orbs of fried dough, a bit like choux pastry or cream puffs yet easier to make. Crisp outside and airy inside with a sweet note thanks to the cinnamon sugar.

Here is the recipe: Portuguese Doughnuts

Christmas tea and cake traditions in Portugal - Mothers share Charlotte sy Dimby blog -

The girls and I love to cook together and the festive season is an opportunity to spend even more time as a family! Sharing our traditions with you has enabled us to capture these special moments and to create precious memories which I will forever cherish.

Christmas traditions in Portugal smocked dress - Mothers share Charlotte sy Dimby blog -

Follow Teresa and her darling family on Instagram : @teresacostasalgado

Discover her childrenswear's brand : Sal & Pimenta

Shop our smocked dresses (The smocked dresses worn by the girls are from our Christmas collection)

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