Pão-por-Deus: Portugal's All Saints' Day Treat Tradition
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In Portugal, 1 November is All Saints' Day, Dia de Todos os Santos, and it comes with one of the country's sweetest traditions.
In the morning, children knock on doors with a small cloth bag and ask for Pão-por-Deus, which means bread for God's sake.
What goes in the bag
Neighbours traditionally hand out small treats rather than shop sweets.
- Walnuts and almonds
- Dried figs
- Sweet breads and honey biscuits
- Chestnuts, in some regions
- A few coins, now and then
A tradition with a long memory
The custom is often linked to Lisbon after the great earthquake of 1 November 1755, when many people were left with nothing and went door to door asking for food.
Today it is a happy, gentle morning for children and a nice reason for neighbours to say hello.
Make your own Pão-por-Deus bags
Living abroad? You can still give your children or grandchildren a taste of it.
- Fill small cotton bags with a handful of walnuts in shell and a few dried figs.
- Add two or three Broas de Mel honey biscuits wrapped in baking paper.
- Tie with string and hand them out after breakfast.
Bom Dia de Todos os Santos!
Explore Portuguese Favourites at Yum Biltong
Broas, dried fruit and nuts are the flavours of a Portuguese autumn, and we stock the brands families know.
Order from anywhere in Europe and we deliver to your door.
Shop the Range
- Os Originais Walnuts in Shell 500g
- Os Originais Dried Figs 250g
- Broas de Mel Honey Biscuits 250g
- Broas de Castelar 250g
- Broas d'Avó with Dried Fruit 250g
Nuts | Dried fruit | Cakes and bakes
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