Nochebuena

This article is about a traditional custom in Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines. For the flower called "Noche Buena", see Poinsettia.

Billboard in Downtown Miami, expressing Nochebuena due to the predominant Latino culture.

Nochebuena (literally "Good Night") and Navidad are Spanish words referring to the night of Christmas Eve. In Spain, Cuba, Latin America, and the Philippines, the evening consists of a traditional dinner with family.

• The Cuban tradition is a family dinner centered around a pig roast, or lechón. The pig is often cooked in a "Caja China," a large box where an entire pig is placed above hot coals^{[citation needed]}. The dinner features many side dishes and desserts, and often games of dominos are played. The tradition is continued by Cuban families in the US.

• In Spain, after a Christmas Mass, Nochebuena tradition includes a dinner with family and friends. It is particularly common to start the meal with a seafood dish followed by a bowl of hot, homemade soup. It is also common to have desserts such as turrón.

• In some countries of Latin America Nochebuena is also celebrated on Christmas Eve and marks the final evening of the Posadas celebrations, in others a dinner is served with the family usually after attended the late Mass known as "Misa del Gallo".

• In New Mexico, la Nochebuena is celebrated by lighting luminarias and farolitos.

• In the Philippines, this usually comes at midnight after the family has attended the late evening Christmas Eve Mass or Misa de Gallo. Some of the more conventional dishes served for the main course are any of the following: lechon, pancit, sweet-style (Filipino style) spaghetti, fruit salad, fried chicken, ham, queso de bola, arróz caldo, lumpia, rice, and adobo. Desserts include úbe halaya, bibingka, membrilyo, different rice and flour-based cakes, ice cream, pastries and fruits, while drinks include tsokolate, coffee, soda, wine, beer, and different kinds of fruit juices.