Paz e Alegria! Peace and Joy! Talking about the Holiday Season in Portuguese

In this post we’ll learn vocabulary and expressions that you can use to talk about the holiday season in Portuguese. First we’ll learn holiday greetings that you can use for Christmas and Hanukkah. Then we’ll look at vocabulary that you can use to talk about holiday decorations. After that we’ll learn how to talk about gifts and gift giving in Portuguese. Next we’ll learn how to talk about the holiday spirit. Finally, we’ll learn how to wish people a happy new year in Portuguese and enjoy the festivities.

Greetings for the Holiday Season in Portuguese

The first thing you may want to know how to say is of course Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah. Here are some other expressions you can use to wish people well during the holiday season. We’ll come back to happy new year in Portuguese later.

• Feliz Natal!
  Merry Christmas!
• Feliz Chanucá!
  Happy Hanukkah!
• Boas Festas de Fim de Ano! /  Boas Festas!
  Enjoy the Holidays!

• Você(s) comemora(m) Natal / Chanucá?
  Do you celebrate Christmas/Hanukkah?
• Tenha um bom fim de ano!
  Enjoy this time of year!
• Espero que você(s) tenha(m) um bom Dezembro. 
  I hope you have a good December.
• Espero que você veja seus amigos e sua família. 
  I hope you see your friends and family.
• Desejo a você paz, saúde e felicidade!
  I wish you peace, health, and happiness!
• Espero que você ganhe muitos presentes. 
  I hope you get a lot of presents.

Decorations during the Holiday Season in Portuguese

Lots of people put up decorations this time of year, so you may want to say: A Árvore de Natal (Christmas tree), a menorá (menorah), a estrela (star), a vela (candle), o sino (bell), as luzes coloridas (colorful lights), o presépio (nativity scene), o menino Jesus (baby Jesus), o anjo (angel), os Reis Magos (three kings), o Papai Noel (Santa Claus), o homem de neve (snowman), a rena (reindeer).

• Nós vamos comprar uma árvore de natal nesse fim de semana. 
  We’re going to buy a Christmas tree this weekend.
• Vamos decorar a árvore de Natal. 
  Let’s decorate the Christmas tree.
• Vamos acender a menorá.
  Let’s light the menorah.
• A menorá tem nove velas. 
  A menorah has nine candles.
• Há luzes coloridas na casa.
  There are colorful lights on the house.
• Os enfeites da árvore de Natal são lindos.
  The Christmas tree ornaments are beautiful.
• Nós montamos um presépio todos os anos. 
  We put up a manger/nativity scene every year.
• A minha família coloca enfeites de Chanucá.
  My family puts up Hanukkah decorations.

Holiday Gifts

Exchanging presents is of course a big part of the holiday season, so you may want to say: o presente (gift/present), o papel de embrulho (wrapping paper), o cartão (card).

• Eu preciso comprar presentes para muitos amigos e parentes. 
  I have to buy gifts for a lot of friends and relatives.
• Eu tenho um presente para você. 
  I got a present for you.
• O que você comprou para mim?
  What did you get for me?
• Desembrulhe o seu presente. 
  Unwrap your present.
• Que presente ótimo! 
  This is a great present!
• Você é tão generoso(a)/ atento(a).
  You’re so generous/thoughtful.
• Amei o meu presente.
  I love my present.
• Eu mesmo(a) fiz este presente para você. 
  I made this gift for you myself.
• O Papai Noel deixou presentes embaixo da árvore de Natal. 
  Santa Claus left gifts under the Christmas tree.
• Na Chanucá recebemos oito presentes. 
  We get eight gifts for Hanukkah.

The Spirit of the Holiday Season in Portuguese

The holiday season means different things to different people.

• Amo as festas de fim de ano.
  I love the holiday season.
• Há música de Natal em todos os lugares.
  There is Christmas music everywhere.
• Não vejo a hora de comemorar as festas de fim de ano. 
  I’m looking forward to the holiday.
• Amo o Natal.
  I love Christmas.
• Estou animado para ver minha família na Chanucá. 
  I’m excited to see my family for Hanukkah.
• Desejo paz na terra.
  I hope for peace on earth.
• Estamos doando presentes para famílias carentes. 
  We’re donating gifts for poor families.
• É importante doar alimentos para os necessitados.
  It’s important to give food to people who need it.
• Estou agradecido pela minha família e pelos meus amigos. 
  I’m thankful for my family and friends.

Happy New Year in Portuguese

Soon enough, the year will come to an end, and people everywhere will drink a toast to the new year. So you’ll want to know how to wish people a happy new year in Portuguese, and how to talk about all of the festivities.

• Você vai a uma festa de Réveillon?
  Are you going to a New Year’s Eve party?
• Nós fazemos uma ceia grande com a família e os amigos. 
  We eat a big dinner with family and friends.
• Estou convidando amigos para a festa.
  I’m inviting friends to a party.
• Feliz Ano Novo!
  Happy New Year!
• É meia noite, vamos brindar com champagne!
  It’s midnight, let’s drink champagne!
• Saúde! / Chin chin! 
  Cheers!
• Paz, saúde e felicidade no ano novo!
  Peace, health, and happiness in the new year!
• Quais são as suas Resoluções para o  Ano Novo?
  What are your New Year’s Resolutions?
• Eu quero entrar em forma no ano novo.
  I want to get in shape in the new year.
• Eu quero aprender uma língua nova no ano novo. 
  I want to learn a new language in the new year.
• Desejo a você muito sucesso no ano novo. 
  I wish you great success in the new year.
• Espero que você seja feliz no ano novo. 
  I hope you are very happy in the new year.

No matter what holiday you celebrate, we wish you great health and happiness, and a very happy new year in Portuguese: Feliz Ano Novo!

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We hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to talk about the holiday season in Portuguese and how to wish people a happy new year in Portuguese. If you’d like to learn more, check out our other posts on Portuguese language, Brazilian culture, and more. And if you’re looking for convenient and affordable live Portuguese lessons with a real teacher, check out The Language Garage Portuguese. Our lessons are given online in a virtual classroom, so it doesn’t matter where you live or work. We can come to you. And we have flexible options, with a free trial so that you can decide if there’s a fit. Check us out!

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