Christmas Celebrations 2024 in Rio de Janeiro

If you're a tropical Christmas lover, Christmas in Rio de Janeiro may become one of your most-loved holiday destinations. Interestingly, since there are no spruce trees in Brazil, they are replaced by Christmas-tree-shaped displays of electric lights, and the main Christmas tree is put right in the middle of the lagoon. Christmas celebrations in Brazil are filled with a warmhearted atmosphere and the dearest people around.

Christmas Celebration Highlights

Festivities in Brazil begin on Christmas Eve, or Véspera de Natal, with families gathering at the parental home to share gifts and enjoy the evening together. Many Brazilians observe strong Catholic traditions, and attending the Midnight Mass (Missa do Galo) is popular. Following this Mass, a vibrant fireworks display often lights up the night.

Christmas Day, known as Dia de Festas, is celebrated on December 25 and centers on acts of faith honoring the birth of Jesus Christ. On this day, Cariocas might visit friends and family or spend time at the beach. For those wishing to keep the celebration going, Rio's bars and clubs open their doors on Christmas night. One of the liveliest areas is the Arcos da Lapa, where bars and clubs fill with music and joyous celebrations late into the night.

Main Traditions

As the world's largest Catholic country, Brazil has a unique way of celebrating Christmas, influenced heavily by Portuguese culture. On Christmas Eve, Papai Noel arrives, and the kids place their shoes near the Christmas tree, waking up to find them filled with small gifts on Christmas morning. Since most homes in Brazil lack fireplaces, stockings are typically hung by the window.

The tradition of the nativity scene, or Presépio, was introduced in the 17th century by Franciscan friar Gaspar de Santo Agostinho and remains especially popular in northeastern Brazil, where many homes display intricate scenes representing the birth of Christ.

Christmas Shopping

Also, a lot of people go Christmas shopping. One of the most popular markets with Christmas gifts and various festive nick-nacks is called Saara Market. It features 11 blocks in the heart of the city, selling everything you may want to buy for Christmas. And if you are looking for something truly eccentric and exquisite, go to the Hippie market in Ipanema.

Christmas Tree at Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas

In 2023, Rio's iconic Christmas tree made its return to Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, delighting residents and tourists after its last display in 2019. Standing at 35 meters—half the height of the previous version—the tree is positioned at a fixed point in the Lagoon Complex rather than floating. In the area, visitors also enjoyed Santa's House and the Water Show, both with free admission. This cherished holiday symbol, first erected in 1996, had been missing from celebrations since 2020 due to the pandemic and, later, a lack of sponsors, once even holding the record as the world's largest floating tree.

Click here to read about NYE celebrations in Rio de Janeiro.