Noche Buena or Christmas Day Dinner?

When do you have a big feast at Christmas?

In my family, the big celebration always comes on Christmas Eve. I never really thought much of this, until I realized that my non-Filipino friends gather with their families for dinner on Christmas Day.

It may seem strange to celebrate Christmas the day before, instead of the day itself. But Filipinos traditionally have a Noche Buena, the Christmas Eve dinner. The practice has Spanish roots, and is usually held after midnight mass. Families attend the mass, then go home to partake of the feast. On the way to and from the church, they could might get a chance to sample the rice sweets sold by many vendors to church-goers. Puto bumbong and bibingka are hot sellers at this time.

My Christmas Eve routine has changed over the years. But the Noche Buena is as much a part of it as it has ever been. We now have our dinner hours before midnight, leaving time for those who want to go to church for midnight services. We pass the gifts around and the kids have a grand time opening some of their gifts.

It will feel odd to change this tradition (and we won’t, at least not anytime soon). We have always gathered on Christmas Eve, and relaxed with family on the Day itself. The cousins get time to play together, with the gifts they received. Nobody cooks on this day, as we have lots of food leftover from last night’s feast. I feel really full from the ham, roast chicken, spaghetti, fruit salad and leche flan that we shared.

Whatever day you gather with your loved ones, I hope it’s been full of love and joy. Have a blessed Christmas season!

image from personal collection, M. Macalincag ©2009