Once upon a time, Father Christmas and other Xmas gift-bringers

The Guerra Junqueiro Museum opens a visual display that tells the history of Father Christmas and other mythical or folkloric gift-bringing figures who appear around the Christmas period, since the 17th century. The opening is on 14 December, starting at 6.30 pm.

The visual exhibition "Pai Natal: Metamorfoses e Mitificação" [Father Christmas: Metamorphosis and Myth Making] is built on an academic research, coordinated by Sérgio Araújo, researcher in the field of childhood, and structurally designed by visual artist Fernando Marques de Oliveira.

This visual display comprises 130 images and objects, original pieces printed in Europe, specifically illustrations, engravings, lithographs, dated between the 17th and the 20th centuries, that depict, inter alia, Baby Jesus, the Christmas Angel, Saint Nicholas, a figure reminiscent of Saint Joseph (card printed in Porto in 1904) and, evidently, the benevolent old man, dressed in red with a flowing white beard, which Coca-Cola established in 1920.

This set of allegories are once in a lifetime opportunity to know a unique visual setting that epitomises this festive season all around the world.

The Guerra Junqueiro Museum promotes workshops and provides guided tours for all age groups.

This event is entrance free and the exhibition can be visited till the 14th February 2018.

Opening hours: From Monday to Saturday, between 10 am and 5.30 pm (last admissions at 5 pm) and Sundays from 10 am to 12.30 am and from 2 pm to 5.30 pm (last admissions at 12 am and 5 pm, respectively).

Closes on public holidays.