On a quiet side street in Porto’s old town, a red framed window surrounded by jade green tiles invites passersby to pull its brass rings and share some Christmas cheer. The rings are wired to beautiful brass bells in graduated sizes that sing like a church choir, and the interactive display has been designed by a local artist annually since 2017. But the bells don’t belong to a high-end department store or a fine jeweler — it’s the holiday tradition of an industrial hardware store. 

Rocha & Leitão sells everything from paint and plumbing to tools and tiles, and they put these utilitarian items to use in the Natal display each November and December. Sheet metal and roofing shingles are crafted into stars. Washers are sprinkled like shiny confetti. Stainless steel clamps are stamped with tidings of “love,” “joy,” “health” and “family” in Portuguese and English. And while there aren’t any partridges in a pear tree, the hardware store’s pet canaries and cockatiel often trill a festive tune.