Christmas in Honduras is primarily celebrated on December 24 and 31 and is both religious and family-oriented. On the other hand, the Christmas season in Honduras takes place between November and January and includes festivities such as Posadas, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year, and Three Kings’ Day, along with country-specific activities like Christmas villages and the “Secret Friend” or “cuchumbo.” Spanish is the de jure language spoken in Honduras. The majority of Hondurans are Mestizo, which means they have a mix of Amerindian and European ancestry. This ethnic group accounts for 90% of the population. One percent Whites, two percent Blacks, and seven percent Amerindians round out the top ten.
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Christmas Season in Honduras
The Christmas season in Honduras involves a series of activities and festivities occurring between November and January. In December, the average temperature ranges from 85 °F during the day to 71 °F at night. Decoration of shopping centers, public buildings, parks, and squares throughout the country begins in early November. Additionally, Christmas sales may start between mid-November and early December. Along with discounts on items sold throughout the year, Christmas-specific items like Christmas trees, Christmas lights, decorations (such as rain, garlands, and spheres, among others), and materials for crafting nativity scenes begin to be sold.
Christmas Activities in Honduras
- Christmas Villages: In recent years, Christmas villages have been organized in all 18 departments of the country, with those in the cities of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula being the most popular. Christmas villages are part of the presidential project called “Navidad Catracha” and aim to support microbusinesses and provide family entertainment. The project was proposed by President Juan Orlando Hernández in 2014. Christmas villages include activities such as food sales, games, concerts, and crafts, among others, and are open to the public from early December to early January.
- Secret Friend or “Cuchumbo”: An activity carried out among friends, colleagues, and family members in which gifts are exchanged. Before the exchange, each participant draws a piece of paper with the name of the person to whom they will give a gift.
Las Posadas
Las Posadas are religious celebrations that aim to prepare for the celebration of Christmas. Originating in Mexico, they are celebrated from December 16 to 24. Las Posadas recalls the long pilgrimage that Joseph and Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem, as well as their anxious search for a place to stay and await the birth of baby Jesus. During Las Posadas, Hondurans consume traditional Christmas foods and sing and play carols.
Nochebuena and Navidad (Christmas Eve and Christmas)
During the morning and afternoon of December 24, Hondurans visit their friends and family, in addition to receiving guests at their homes. Some Hondurans wear their “estrenos” or new clothes that are worn on Christmas Eve. Before midnight, the Catholic church offers a Mass (known as the Misa de Gallo), and the evangelical church holds its services.
Additionally, during the night, Honduran families gather, and the Christmas dinner takes place. The Honduran Christmas dinner may include nacatamales, baked pork leg, stuffed chicken, rice, and vegetables. It may also include drinks such as rompopo, fruit punch, and mistela, as well as desserts like honeyed doughnuts and torrejas.
On December 25, exactly at 12 a.m., hugs and congratulations begin, and fireworks are set off throughout the country, despite the prohibition of their sale due to accidents that have occurred with children. There are popular pyrotechnics among young people, such as “chispitas,” sparklers, and volcanoes. Subsequently, the exchange of gifts takes place.
Año Nuevo (New Year)
For the New Year, not only are activities common worldwide performed, but also activities typical in Latin America. In addition to the fireworks at 12 a.m. on January 1, the burning of the “old year” is carried out, which is made with old clothes and newspapers. There are also the twelve lucky grapes, which involve eating a grape with each stroke of the clock at midnight.
Die de Reyes (Three Kings’ Day)
Three Kings’ Day is celebrated on January 6 and commemorates the arrival of the Three Wise Men. On this day, the Rosca de Reyes is made, where a small figurine representing the baby Jesus is hidden. The person who finds the figurine has to host a “tamaleada”—a party where tamales are the main dish—on February 2.
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Crafting Nativity Scenes
Nativity scenes are models representing the birth of Jesus Christ in the city of Bethlehem. They use figures made of clay and plastic, and the baby Jesus is usually covered until Christmas. The preparation of nativity scenes has its origins in colonial times and is very popular in rural areas. While some prefer a traditional approach, others include modern scenes that may depict significant events that have occurred during the year, as well as fictional modern scenes.
Most nativity scenes represent the community of those who craft them. They include houses, churches, trees, small streets, rivers, mountains, domestic animals, and people. In addition to clay and plastic figures, colored sawdust, paste, moss, and certain plants are also used in crafting nativity scenes. However, due to the negative environmental impact of extracting paste and moss, their sale has been prohibited in Tegucigalpa.
Christmas Food in Honduras
Christmas cuisine in Honduras includes dishes and drinks adopted from other countries as well as dishes and drinks native to the country.
- Nacatamal: A dish originating from Nicaragua that is popular in Honduras during the Christmas season. It consists of a corn-based dough, meat (either chicken or pork), vegetables (such as carrots and potatoes), and rice, among other ingredients, divided into portions that are cooked wrapped in banana leaves.
- Baked Pork Leg: Usually marinated with a mixture of vegetables, spices, and vinegar one or two days before baking. Once ready, sweet ingredients like pineapple juice or panela can be added before baking to give the pork leg a sweet and sour flavor.
- Stuffed Chicken: A popular dish during Christmas as chicken is more affordable than turkey. Vegetables, spices, and meats (such as chorizo) are used for the stuffing.
- Rompopo: A version of rompope (eggnog) usually made with milk, cinnamon, eggs, and condensed milk. It can be served with or without liquor.
- Honeyed Doughnuts: Doughnuts made from corn and curd, which, once baked, are cooked in a syrup (or honey) made from panela.
- Torreja: A dish made from a slice of bread soaked in a mixture of condensed milk and evaporated milk or in a syrup made from panela and, after being coated in egg, fried in a pan with oil.
