Chilean Christmas

Christmas season is festive to say they least. But unlike the Northern Americans who
celebrate their Christmas at the peak of winter, the Chileans do so in the hot summers.
This is not to say that the dates differ, it is because Chile is in the Southern hemisphere
and is experiencing summer during December.
Chilean Christmas is about family reunion more than anything else.
The main gathering point for families on Christmas Eve is the midnight mass.
Following this the Holiday Dinner is celebrated in full blow together. The menu for the
day includes a host of meat and rice based dishes. Pudding is a hot favorite amongst the
Chileans. Other dessert items include a special fruit cake known as Pan de Pascua. Cola
de mono, monkeys tail and the rompon are the famous Christmas drinks in Chile. The
gifts arent opened until after the dinner. In most houses you will find the adults staying
up till late at night.
One of the most important parts of Chilean Christmas traditions is the character of
Viejito Pascuero translated as the Old Man Christmas. This is a Chilean version of a
rather down sized Santa Claus. Many say the character is smaller because chimneys in
Chile tend to be quite small. However the Old Man Christmas has the same reindeer
driven sleigh as his North American counterpart.
Christmas traditions are grounded on religious belief and you will find all rituals to be
centered on the character of Jesus Christ. Church services are conducted on a daily
basis during the length of the season. The nine-day novena that commences before the
actual holiday is the most important time with regards to church services.
Christmas Day is also a day to enjoy nature and sports. The people come to the
beaches, go on rock-climbing or surfing, and most people simply enjoy the sight of
these holiday spots.
A traditional drink called "Cola de Mono" or "Monkey's Tail," made from coffee, milk,
liquor, cinnamon, and sugar, is served during Christmas time and New Year's.
Christmas is about Christ
Most Chileans don't forget that Christmas is centered around Jesus Christ. Many will
attend church services including the traditional Christmas Eve mass. Carols are sung
and families often read the Bible passages recounting the birth of Jesus.
Chile's 70% of the population consists of Roman Catholics. As a result, Christmas
features among the most important religious holidays in this country. It is essentially a
summertime seasonal celebration and has a strong Latin American flavor. Christmas in
Chile is all about colorful festivities. The Christmas season commences with Advent
and concludes with Baptism of Jesus. The entire season is marked with several holy
days including Novena (9 days). Much like Hispanic cultures, Chile highlights Nativity
scene, portraying Lord Jesus birth in the home.
Small clay figures or characters are kept under the Xmas trees, which are called
pesebre in Chile.
Midnight mass called Misa De Gallo is hosted on the Christmas Eve.
After La Misa De Gallo the traditional mid night meal is served. The Christmas Eve
meal often includes azuela de ave, a chicken soup filled with potatoes, onions and corn
on the cob; and Pan de Pasqua, a Christmas bread filled with candied fruit. After the

meal, presents are exchanged and the children are put to bed while the adults continue
to celebrate.