Christmas a lo Latino…a True Celebration of Diversity



There is no better time to be a Latino in the U.S. than during the holidays. Oh my, the food, the drinks, the different customs, the singing, the parties, all overloading my senses and filling my stomach and soul.  Latino parties are big, loud and just keep going and going, sometimes until El Día de los Reyes Magos (The day of the Three Wise Men). 

Having family and friends from all over Latin America means that most of my weekends during December are booked solid. Being part of different holiday traditions, rituals, and customs is a true celebration of Latin American diversity.   A Posada celebration one day, a Novena and villancicos the next, an Argentine asado with pan dulce another day, and a parranda Boricua style the next. In a span of just a few days, we go from a mix of Cumbia, Salsa, Tango, Bomba, Gaita, Plena, Son, Merengue and more…whoosh…no resting for us!

While traditions vary from country to country, and even home-to-home, Christmas is the one time of the year, where Latinos really hold on to their traditional family Hispanic values and customs, and I simply love it! Yes, Santa Claus and milk and cookies are nice, but Latino holidays are about so much more. You just don’t get this diversity anywhere else in the world, and I’m incredibly delighted that my kids are exposed to such rich traditions and foods each year. It is a treat to see, feel, and taste how diverse our holiday celebrations are.

Despite all the different customs by country, there are also many similarities. While most people wait in anticipation for Christmas Day, our BIG DAY is on December 24th.  It’s Noche Buena (the Good Night) in our home and everyone is invited, again! For as long as I can remember, our Christmas Eve celebrations have always been a time to feast, to drink, to dance and to recount fond memories, to teach our kids to dance, to call family and friends that are faraway, to talk about loved ones that have passed, and most importantly to cherish the ones beside us...hugs, kisses, laughter, and tears abound.  The anticipation of opening gifts at midnight is exhilarating for both kids and adults and we celebrate into the wee hours like it’s going out of style. At the end of the night, with the adults having partied too much and the kids beyond tired, it’s all just a little insane, but hey! that’s our magical Noche Buena experience, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  The next day, the party continues, but in U.S. style.


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