Lisbon - Wonderland Lisbon is an annual Christmas

A Lisbon Christmas usually revolves around a shared meal with family. On the 24th of December, most families will indulge in bacalhau com todos, meaning codfish with everything. The cod fish is usually prepared with vegetables and potatoes for all to share. After dinner, it’s customary to attend a midnight church service called Missa do Galo which marks the birth of Jesus. After mass, you return home and place an image of the baby Jesus in a crib, which starts the exchange of Christmas gifts with loved ones.On Christmas day in Lisbon, the main tradition is sharing a roasted stuffed turkey for lunch. This dish originated in the 16th century when turkeys filled the streets and were sold for Christmas. And of course, no Christmas meal is complete without dessert! Bolo Rei, filhoses, azevias, and sonhos are popular Christmas day in Lisbon treats. After lunch, locals spend time with their family or go meet their friends on a terrace.Like with most places, New Year’s is a huge party night. Whether you want to visit a club, go to some bars, hang out in a restaurant, or party in the streets, there’s plenty of options to ring in the New Year in Lisbon.

In Lisbon, most of the outdoor celebrations take place at Praça do Comércio or Belém. These places have live music, dancing, and a great environment to celebrate. As midnight approaches, everyone gets their bottle of espumante (Portuguese sparkling wine) ready to begin the countdown and welcome the New Year. A firework show happens, and then you can choose to go to some of the surrounding bars, restaurants, or nightclubs, or you can choose to continue the party in the streets.