Christmas traditions from across Latin America that make the season extra festive

People in Ecuador participate in a Novena – nine days of praying, singing, and gathering to eat – usually around a nativity scene. A set of prayers are recited every night in order to prepare for the birth of baby Jesus.

While people in the US associate fireworks with the Fouth of July, Argentinians set off fireworks when the clock strikes midnight and it’s officially Christmas. People will also celebrate by gathering with family, heading out to nightclubs, or indulging in lots of Christmas treats.

Literally translating to Little Candles Day, people in Colombia mark the beginning of the Christmas season on December 7 by lighting small candles or paper lanterns and placing them in visible spots like windowsills, balconies, and porches and in parks and public squares.

The posadas are basically processions that are supposed to honor Mary and Joseph’s journey to Jerusalem. The processions are full of music and singing and paper lanterns, and people typically hold images of Mary of Joseph. The posadas take place during all nine days leading up to Noche Buena.

Noche de Rabanos, also known as Night of the Radishes, stems from an old tradition where merchants would carve radishes into tiny sculptures hoping to attract local shoppers. Today, the radish carving still continues, but the sculptures have become a lot bigger. People line up to look at the displays, and the person with the best carvings wins a prize.

During the Christmas season, Costa Ricans decorate their houses with beautiful flowers. Some also take time to add flowers, fruit, and figurines to their Nativity scenes. The Nativity scene is usually the center of display within their homes.

Some families wait until just before Christmas to put the presents under the tree. They might trick the children into looking away, while someone sneakily puts the presents under the tree. The children are then led to believe that Santa made his visit and left them presents.

The aguinaldos are a dear holiday tradition in the country. Friends and family gather in groups and go around from house to house knocking on doors, singing, and playing music. A family will usually offer the aguinaldos food and drinks like hot chocolate and toasted bread.

The time around midnight is usually loud because everyone’s letting their fireworks off at the same time. Christmas is also celebrated the way many people in other Latin American countries do: with a huge dinner and tons of family over.

The people in each of the town’s neighborhoods will dress up and try to be as festive as possible until it’s time to attend midnight Mass. The story is that the tradition first started after the town’s priest became afraid that people would fall asleep before Mass, so he asked the children to make as much noise as they could leading up to the mass.

During the Christmas Bram, participants sing, dance, and play instruments through the neighborhood. In another tradition, Jankunu dancers put on a performance that celebrates the country’s freedom from slavery.

The first family that signs up will host the procession and the people dressed up as Mary and Joseph mimicking their journey to Jerusalem. Afterward, the homeowners at that first stop will then join the procession as they lead it to the next house on the tour.

The drink, called Cola de Mono, is made with aguardiente, milk, coffee, sugar, and cloves. Those who aren’t having this drink may be drinking borgona instead, which is a drink made of chilled red wine and a strawberry mixture.

The Shouting happens on the day of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. People will usually scream, “Que cause tan alegria?” meaning, “What’s the cause for so much happiness?” People then respond that it’s Mary’s conception. The calls and responses goes on all night until the fireworks go off.

Traditional Venezuelan holiday foods include hallacas, which are made of a corn dough that’s stuffed with meat and other ingredients like olives and raisins; pan de hamon, which is a long bread that’s filled with ham, raisins, and olives; and dulce de lechoza, which is a sweet treat made from papaya and brown sugar.

Nativity scenes are the focal point of almost every Peruvian home during the Christmas season, and on Noche Buena, one family member is chosen to finally put the baby Jesus figure into the tiny manger that’s part of what Peruvians call pesebres. Peruvians also take some time to enjoy panettone, a sweet bread full of candied fruits.

The procession of the baby Jesus is full of singing and dancing as it finally makes its way into the church. People will then stay awake to attend midnight Mass on Christmas, before continuing the festivities at their own home, meaning the Christmas celebration in Bolivia literally goes all night.

In addition to the parrandas, which is basically a form of caroling, some Puerto Ricans participate in a lechon asao. The pig roasts consists of holiday music, cooking of side dishes, and overall party vibes. The celebration and gift giving then continues until Three Kings Day, or Dia de Los Reyes.

Unlike in the US, people in Panama associate turkey with Christmas rather than Thanksgiving. In Panama, turkey is prepared with local spices and minced vegetables and is served with other traditional foods like tamales, potato salad, and ham. The food is accompanied with ron ponche, their version of a rum-spiked eggnog.

The children may then wake up to find that their sock was taken and exchanged with a gift by Papai Noel, what Brazilians call Santa Claus. Since Christmas in Brazil occurs during the summer, some people may even spend theirs at the beach.

Clerico is almost like a sangria. It’s made of fruits that are thrown into a juice that’s sometimes mixed with wine. But the drink is only a small part of the holiday seasons. Other Christmas traditions in Paraguay include the setting off of fireworks and the setup of Nativity scenes in the home.