Brazil, the fragrant, colorful and ethnically varied Latin American country has Christmas customs that evoke the traditions of a number of people from a number of countries, though many customs come from Portuguese heritage.

Nativity scenes in Brazil are created in each home, and each family uses Presepios, (from the Hebrew word "presepium") or a bed of straw like baby Jesus rested on during his first night, in Bethlehem, when creating nativity scenes. According to one old Brazilian legend, animals knew about the birth of Christ, and chatted about it. Other tales are shared about Los Pastores (The Shepherds or Shepherdesses) and a gypsy who attempted to kidnap baby Jesus following his birth.

Santa Claus's Brazilian equivalent is Father Noel or Papai Noel, a silk-clad (due to the heat) gift-bringer who hails from Greenland. Papai Noel was a tradition that was inherited from North America during the 1950s. While the tradition doesn't exceed 60 years, Brazilians enjoy the idea that Papai Noel will bring them gifts and good tidings. When Papai delivers presents on Christmas morning, those gifts are often delivered under Christmas "trees" made of electric lights in lieu of pine trees, because they are difficult to come by. And, when one is able to find a pine tree, the pine tree is whitened using white cotton wool to imitate real snow.

Much older traditions include: decorating with fresh flowers picked from local gardens; pineapples watermelons, bananas are used liberally to decorate tables; fireworks echo through the sky in the evening; and record-breaking giant Christmas "trees" of electric lights are lit against the night sky in larger cities, such as San Paolo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasilia.  Brazilians also take advantage of long-lasting festivities that go on until January 6th, a date that is known as Three Kings Day, which is believed to be the day when the three wise men arrived bearing gifts for baby Jesus.