Nochebuena

This article is about a traditional custom in Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines. For the flower called "Noche Buena", see Poinsettia.

Nochebuena and Navidad are Spanish words referring to the night of Christmas Eve. In Spain, Puerto Rico, Latin America, and the Philippines, the evening consists of a traditional dinner with family.

• The Cuban and Puerto Rican tradition is a family dinner centered around a pig roast, or lechón. The pig is often cooked in a "Caja China," a large box where an entire pig is placed above hot coals^{[citation needed]}. The dinner features many side dishes and desserts, and often games of dominos are played. The tradition is continued by Cuban and Puerto Rican families in the United States.

• In Spain, Nochebuena includes a dinner with family and friends after Christmas Mass. It is particularly common to start the meal with a seafood dish followed by a bowl of hot, homemade soup. It is also common to have desserts such as turrón.

• In some countries of Latin America Nochebuena is also celebrated on Christmas Eve and marks the final evening of the Posadas celebrations, in others a dinner is served with the family usually after attended the late Mass known as "Misa del Gallo".

• In New Mexico, la Nochebuena is celebrated by lighting luminarias and farolitos.

• In the Philippines, the traditional dinner comes at midnight after the family has attended the late evening Christmas Eve Mass known as Misa de Gallo. Some of the more conventional dishes served for the main course include: lechon, pancit, sweet-style spaghetti, fruit salad, fried chicken, hamón, quezo de bola, arróz caldo, lumpia, turkey, relyenong bangus (stuffed milkfish), adobo, steamed rice, and various breads including pan de sal. Desserts include úbe halayà, bibingka, membrilyo, fruit salad, and various different rice and flour-based cakes, ice cream, pastries and fruits, while popular beverages include tsokolate, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, and fruit juices.

See also

• Christmas in Mexico
• Christmas in the Philippines