Cod sh Christmas in Portugal By Emily De Sousa
L
ike any kid, I was always anxious for Christmas Eve to arrive. But my eagerness wasn’t about Santa and presents, rather it was about the food. On December 24, Portuguese households all around the world sit down to enjoy Christmas dinner, or “Ceia de Natal,” after attending Midnight Mass (Missa do Galo). Even as kids, we were allowed to stay up past our bed times to enjoy bacalhau (cod sh). Cod sh is a staple in Portuguese households dating back to the 14th century. Tradition says there are over 365 ways to make bacalhau—one for each day of the year. But on Christmas Eve, we eat bacalhau de consoada, or cod sh served with eggs, potatoes, and cabbage. After licking our plates clean, Avo (grandma) cut us all a piece of dessert. Bolo Rei, is a traditional Portuguese fruitcake. Of course, it was never popular among the kids. Not for its taste, anyway. The Bolo Rei game is what got us excited. Bolo Rei contains small toy, like surprises inside. One of the surprises decides who’s responsible for purchasing next year’s fruitcake, so it’s always a game of roulette to make sure the surprise doesn’t end up on your plate!
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