How Does Chile Celebrate Christmas

I experienced a chilean christmas twice during my time in santiago and central chile.

How does chile celebrate christmas. New year s day chile welcomes in the new year with the rest of the world. These services are known as a novena. They celebrate it very similar to the u s. They decorate their trees hang stockings spend time with family and have big feasts which usually include most chilean foods and others like cola de.

Summertime since chile sits in the southern hemisphere christmas arrives in the middle of summer. The crescendo of christmas in chile isn t christmas day instead it s christmas eve. Santa claus is coming to chile. Jolly old saint nicholas takes on the persona of viejito pascuero or papa noel old man christmas for chilean children but he s still recognizable with his classic red and white suit bulky sack full of presents and bowl full of jelly physique flying to people s houses on christmas eve in a sleigh pulled by reindeer he slides down the.

Families can be very large and christmas is an excuse for brothers nieces and nephews and other relations to get together. We don t have a traditional menu. Chile takes a great deal of pride in its long history impressive geography unique culture and its religious and indigenous roots. The kids have finished their year of school and enjoy the.

Christmas eve is the most important day over christmas. Chileans have several official holidays during the year. Since i was a kid i remember christmas was the most expected day of the year after my birthdays christmas was also the announcement of the holidays and summer. Chileans call this event la noche buena or the good night.

Many catholics in chile celebrate advent and also go to special church services for nine days before christmas. Chile holidays include a number of national celebrations and festivals throughout the year often driven by historical events agricultural traditions or the catholic religious calendar. This evening chilean families will sit down for a turkey dinner and presents. A warm open and fun loving people chileans are always ready.

Their strong indigenous heritage is often blended into catholic traditions producing rich and meaningful celebrations. Christmas is celebrated in many ways across the varied landscapes and diverse families in chile. How do we celebrate christmas in chile. Families and friends gather together for a big meal in the evening eaten about 9pm or 10pm.

Some are the product of chile s history and others are based on catholic celebrations. Easter and holy week traditional christian holidays celebrating the resurrection.