This may be the day before Christmas in North America, but Christmas is celebrated today in Honduras – well, tonight. It is called Noche Buena. Many Hondurans go to church in the evening to sing and pray and celebrate the birth of Jesus, the promised Messiah. Then they gather at home with extended family and eat nacatamales and sandwiches. The making of the nacatamales starts much earlier in the day.
I don’t know the recipe, but I know it includes masa corn flour and lots of oil or lard.
Banana leaves are then gathered and softened over the fire.
The leaves are then cut into squares. A portion of the flour mixture is placed on the leaf along with a piece of chicken (always including the bone). Then it is wrapped and put over the fire again to bake.
Then unwrap and enjoy!
Another Christmas tradition for the children is fireworks. They begin in early December and increase in volume and quantity as the 24th approaches. There are always Christmas trees and lights on houses and businesses too. Since there are no spruce or fir trees to cut, the tree is either artificial or deciduous.
Happy Noche Buena to all!!
Rural Honduras 