{Our} Home for the Holidays: Janelle's Noche Buena Tradition

Thank you so much Amy for inviting me here today! I'm Janelle and I have my own little corner in blogland called Of Pinks and Fairy Tales where I share my adventures in learning how to sew and crochet, and DIY tutorials for other crafts.

I'm from the Philippines and I'm very happy to be here with you today to share my family's (and pretty much my whole country's) holiday traditions. Today I will be telling you about our Noche Buena tradition.

Noche Buena is a Spanish term we use to refer to dinner with family on Christmas eve. The Philippines was once a Spanish colony for 300 years so most of our practices are rooted in Spanish traditions. 

 I found this article on Wikipedia and you can see the similarities in celebrating Noche Buena in different countries. The description for the Philippines is pretty accurate: "In the Philippines, this usually comes after the entire family has attended the late evening Christmas Eve mass or Misa de Gallo. Often on the table are: lechon, pancit, sweet style (Filipino style) spaghetti, fruit salad, cake, fried chicken, hamon, queso de bola, arroz caldo, lumpia, rice, and adobo among others for the main course. Desserts include ube halaya, bibingka, membrillo, rice cakes, ice cream, pastries and cakes; drinks include hot chocolate, coffee, soda, wine, beer, and different kinds of fruit juices."

Noche Buena is all about family and FOOD. We celebrate not just with our immediate families but our extended families as well. People make it a point to be home for Christmas, wherever in the world you might be. Though I decorate my house for Christmas, we don't really spend Christmas here. Instead, we hop on a plane and fly south to visit my husband's family to spend Christmas with them. Most of his cousins who are based elsewhere do the same. And on Christmas eve, after attending Misa de Gallo, we all gather together for Noche Buena.

Lechon: Pig roast that's 100% cholesterol but delicious!

I wish I have a traditional Christmas recipe to share with you but that is one thing you can't find on my blog because, you see, I don't know how to cook. My grandmother is a great cook. My mother-in-law is a great cook. My husband is a great cook. And all I know is how to serve water. Yeah... scandalous I know. I know how to fry though, if that counts.   You might wonder if I mind not spending Christmas with my family. I don't, because we fly back to Manila in time to celebrate Media Noche with my family. Media Noche refers to midnight dinner we have with our families on the midnight of January 1 to celebrate the coming of the new year. But that is another story :) From my home to yours, I wish you all a merry Christmas!