Christmas eve night, or “Noche Buena”, is a time in Honduras to celebrate with family and friends. Although tamales are popular, some rural families will raise a pig to butcher and eat on this night. It is a rare treat that most only get once a year. Many rural families can’t afford new clothes throughout the year, but it is a tradition to wear new clothes on this night. The verb used is “estrenar”, which means “to wear for the first time.” And don’t expect to have leftover pork to eat the rest of the week. Some is given to neighbors and friends, but the rest is eaten that night. The celebration goes on into the wee hours of the morning, with the 25th reserved for sleeping.
Rural Honduras 