Christmas Eve dinner has become a unique occasion for family gatherings, more so than a religious celebration. In ancient times, the tradition required fasting during Christmas Eve. Typically, people were allowed to enjoy a small meal either right before or after midnight mass. This meal eventually evolved into the traditional Christmas Eve dinner. To the same effect, ancestral rituals for predicting the abundance of food in the new year were also passed on. Their origin can be traced back to Roman times, when lavish banquets were set up for the Saturnine festivities. The result of the union of these two practices developed into the family meal enjoyed today. Although the idea of a family meal is very common amongst traditions observed at Christmas, the meal's standards vary from place to place. In some areas, this copious feast takes place in the early afternoon of December 25th. While people in El Salvador and Paraguay may prefer to have supper right before heading out to the local midnight mass, those in Panama may prefer holding the traditional meal after the mass. In Peru and Uruguay, the grandparents usually host the gathering.
Traditional Meals
It is practically impossible to make a list of the main courses and desserts that are served on Christmas Eve because they differ greatly between countries, regions and even cities. In Spain, the traditional dishes include lamb, sea bream, seafood, turrones (a kind of brittle), marzipan and polvorones (a kind of cake customarily made during Christmas).
Along with the meal, it has been customary since the late 19th century to open a bottle of cava, a traditional beverage made in Catalonia. Those attending the gathering generally make a toast to happiness and good luck. In Argentina, guests customarily contribute to the meal by bringing in certain dishes. Turkey is a Christmas dish with worldwide popularity. It is a traditional dish in Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico and Peru, as well as in the United States and Great Britain.
Argentina | Brazil | Colombia | Costa Rica | Chile | El Salvador | Guatemala
