Christmas is a time of joy, family gatherings, and rich traditions, and for many Latinos, the holiday season is celebrated with unique customs that reflect their cultural heritage. While practices vary across countries and regions, common themes resonate within Latino communities, blending religious significance with festive spirit.
Let’s start with the word: Navidad. It is a Spanish word that literally means “Christmas”. The word Navidad comes from the Latin word nativitas, which means “birth”. The phrase “Feliz Navidad” is a Spanish greeting that means “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Christmas.”
On Christmas Eve night, many American children eagerly anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus, settling into bed with dreams of the gifts that will await them in the morning. However, for Latino communities, the celebration takes a different turn on Nochebuena.
Nochebuena: Christmas Eve Celebrations
Christmas Eve, known as “Nochebuena,” is often the most significant day of celebration. Families come together for a late-night feast that features traditional dishes, which can vary by country. Common foods include tamales, bacalao (salted cod), and various regional specialties. After dinner, many families attend a midnight Mass to celebrate the birth of Jesus, a practice that holds deep spiritual meaning.
La Posada: A Traditional Reenactment
In many Latin American countries, particularly Mexico, the celebration of Christmas begins with “Las Posadas,” a nine-night event leading up to Christmas Eve. This tradition commemorates Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and their search for lodging. Each night, families and friends gather to reenact the couple’s quest, visiting homes that represent the various inns, singing carols, and asking for shelter. The festivities often culminate with a celebration that includes food, piñatas, and communal prayers.
La Parranda
In Puerto Rico, the Christmas Eve tradition known as La Parranda is a lively celebration. Around 10 p.m., friends and family come together to sing carols, referred to as aguinaldos, in front of the homes of friends and relatives.
Homeowners often invite the singers inside for food and drinks. After about an hour, the host and their guests move on to sing aguinaldos in front of another home. This festive group continues to grow, with more participants joining in as they visit different houses throughout the night.
As the early morning hours approach, a warm chicken soup is typically served to nourish everyone before they head home as dawn breaks.
Día de las Velitas
In Colombia, the holiday season is marked by “Día de las Velitas” (Day of the Little Candles) on December 7, where families and communities light candles and lanterns to honor the Virgin Mary.
Unique Customs Across Countries
In Argentina, Christmas falls during the summer, leading to barbecues and outdoor celebrations.
Different countries have their own distinctive ways of celebrating Christmas. Here is a list of other Christmas traditions from Latin America compiled by Amigo Energy:
In Ecuador, carol singing, prayers, and Christmas excitement begin on December 15, nine days before Nochebuena. Known as la novena, or ninth, each night represents a month of Mary’s pregnancy with Jesus.
It’s all about wearing something new in El Salvador on Nochebuena, dubbed el estreno. People put on something new for December 24, and then lots of folk head to the beach for Christmas Day.
Chile adds a little bit of linguistic confusion to its Christmas celebrations. People wish each other “¡Feliz Pascua!” at Christmas. That’s fine until you realize that it means “Happy Easter!”
The roots of this confusion grew from the ancient Hebrew word for Passover, pesach. That became Pashka in Aramaic, pascha in Greek, and then pascua in Spanish. Some countries kept pascua as a general term for several Christian festivals, while others separated them.
Uruguay is officially a secular country. Its government called Christmas Day the “Day of the Family” and Easter Holy Week “The Week of Tourism.” There are plenty of Christmas trees, lights, and decorations to see, though.
But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Christmas. Cuba once canceled Christmas from 1969-1997. It returned to a national holiday before the visit of Pope John Paul II in January 1998. Peru joined in with a ban on Santa Claus appearing on TV or radio in 1972.
Día de los Reyes
Back again to Puerto Rico, the holiday season extends beyond Christmas Day, with festivities continuing through “Día de los Reyes” (Three Kings Day) on January 6. This day often includes parades, music, and the exchange of gifts.
No matter how you celebrate Christmas, Feliz Navidad from us at Latino News Network!