When I was four I went to Brazil to meet family for the first time. During that visit I turned five and was thrown a big birthday party. In Brazil it is customary to make all the decorations and treats by hand, especially brigadeiros, little candy sweets made of condensed milk usually covered in sprinkles or coconut. Whether it's a wedding, birthday, or anniversary a Brazilian party is not a party without platters of brigadeiros.
In preparation for that birthday party I remember my aunties, grandmother, and ladies from the neighborhood sitting around the table in the hot summer heat rolling dozens of hardened condensed milk balls between the palms of their hands and placing them in little pretty colored paper cups. It was such a production and I was in awe at all the work they were doing for me.
This weekend my mom and I decided to do the same on a much smaller scale for my birthday. We made chocolate flavored versions, the ones rolled in coconut were super-delicious. It was so hard because I was busier licking my fingers covered in sprinkles and chocolate than making the brigadeiros.
They have all now been consumed.
Any cultural birthday traditions you can share?
