Nochebuena ("Good night"), is celebrated every December 24th in Spain, Latin American countries and the Philippines. It is a tradition where families gather together every Christmas Eve to have huge feast, listen to and sing Christmas carols, and exchange gifts.

As for the food, roasted pig, or lechón, is often the center of Nochebuena. There's also jamón (Christmas Ham), queso de bola (Edam cheese), lumpia (spring rolls), Filipino Spaghetti (sweet-tatsing spaghetti), Conchinillo Asado (roasted suckling pig), Polvorónes (soft type of shortbread) , Roscón de Reyes (brioche-like sweet bread), Pierna de Puerco Adobada (Mexican Pork Adobo leg), Ambrosia salad, and so on, depends on which particular Spanish influenced country you are in. The foods are largely dependent on the geographical position of the country.

Though most of the Christians today believe Christ was born on Christmas Day, countries that celebrate Nochebuena focus on the night before Christ's birth, or Christmas Eve. In many countries, including Mexico and the Philippines, the holiday is even more important than Christmas Day.

There are many different ways Nochebuena is celebrated, but it all traces back to one source: religion and Spanish colonialization. In some countries Misa del Gallo is also part of the Christmas tradition where people attend Christmas Eve mass every midnight to mark to birth of baby Jesus. In the Philippines, Misa del Gallo is "traditionally held at the crack of the dawn "

More Info: www.thespanishacademy.hk