It's 3 days away from Christmas! I bet now you have already stock up on gifts for your family and friends. Aguinaldos for your godchildren and also for your children. But there is more to Christmas that just gifts and Aguinaldos. Christmas is the time families gather together and celebrate the birth of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Every year is customary here in the Philippines to the nine days series of masses also known as Simbang Gabi. It is usually from December 16 to December 24 every year. On the last day of Simbang Gabi is where would we celebrate the Noche Buena, Spanish words which means the night before Christmas or Christmas Eve.
Noche Buena is the traditional Christmas family dinner every year and we celebrate Medianoche spanish word for Midnight for New Year's Eve.
There are different dishes served every Christmas Eve or Noche Buena but there are some that should always be present for the Christmas dinner.
Top 5 Pinoy Noche Buena Dishes:
1. Bibingka and Puto Bumbong
It is custom for Filipinos to eat these delicacies after the Simbang gabi. Stalls around the church are form and you could see different sellers wanted you to try their home made delicacies. It's up to you to which you want. :)2. Queso de Bola
Noche is not complete with the world-known Queso de Bola which means Cheese Ball in english and Bolang Keso in Tagalog. You can partner this delicacy with pandesal, hamon, ensaymada, and chocolate which ever your taste preferences want.
In every occasion here in the Philippines, spaghetti would be never be absent. This is the all-time favorite for Filipinos especially for the kids.
4. Sweet Ham
In America, every Thanksgiving dinner they would always served turkey as their main dish. Here in the Philippines, every Christmas dinner we would have some Sweet Ham as the Main dish of the night. Some prefer lechon or barbeque but for a lot of Filipinos, Ham is the best.
5. Fruit Salad
Noche Buena would not be complete without desserts which the much awaited Fruit Salad. Different mixed fruits or fruit cocktail with cream together cream cheese (this is optional) and sugar.There are others who chooses to try experimenting different dishes for Christmas but the most important of remember about Noche Buena is the togetherness of the family with the guidance and love of the our Lord Savior Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas Everyone and A Happy New Year!
sarap naman niyan :D
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