The church bells are ringing and it is cold outside.
The lights in the houses compete with the shining of the stars in the sky to where kids look trying to see Santa Claus.
Inside families gather together around a table full of delicacies.
The meal started with small petiscos: Ham, octopus’ salad, bread, chouriço, olives….. but everybody is waiting for the king to arrive. Following, the big platter arrives to the table showing the best loins of cod, boiled with potatoes, carrots, onions and penca with a hot olive oil sauce aside.
With the kids starting to be impatient running around the presents, is time to find space in the stomachs for the desserts, while waiting for midnight: Rabanadas, aletria. leite creme, formigos, bolo rei, pão de ló, sonhos, papos de anjo, castanhas de ovos and other delights whose secrets were revealed by the monks and nuns.
The night ends with the distribution of presents. Everybody is happy and wishes to meet again at the same time, the same place next year.