Throughout the years the Christmas editions of Portuguese-language newspapers have set themselves apart. They were often printed with color and contained elaborate graphics on the front page, a rare occurrence during the calendar year; devoted substantial space within their pages to religious content that celebrated Christmas, regardless of their political and/or religious affiliation; and one finds multiple businesses and individuals wishing the public well wishes, where they otherwise did not advertise their business in the newspaper.
Of particular mention is O Heraldo Portuguez which was originally only published on Christmas Day, which went on to publish an Easter edition in later years, and was a touchstone for community businesses and individuals in the south coast of New England. It was published in Taunton by the late Affonso Gil Mendes Ferreira (“Ferreira-Mendes”), after whom the Portuguese-American Archives is named. In fact, the 1976 edition pictured is from its 54th year, and also memoralizes Mr. Ferreira’s wife, Maria Rosa Santos Ferreira, who had died that previous June. Its Christmas edition is still fondly remembered by community members.
The original paper version of this publication is preserved in the Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives at the Claire T. Carney Library, UMass Dartmouth. It has been digitized as part of the Portuguese American Digital Newspaper Project, along with other titles from New Bedford (A Alvorada and Diario de Noticias) and California. the project site is accessible at http://www.lib.umassd.edu/archives/paa/portuguese-american-digital-newspaper-collections