The Cuban Noche Buena Thing

Different cultures celebrate the coming of Christmas in many ways.  Like most Cuban-Americans I have adopted the American way of having all the presents under the tree by Christmas Eve.  I remember that as a young child, my mother would let me open one small present before going to bed, but the rest were opened on  Christmas Day followed by a big family dinner.  What I remember in the Cuba of my youth , the thing was done a little different.

There was no Christmas Eve in Cuba and there was no opening or giving of presents.  At least not on that day.  The night of December 24th. is known as “Noche Buena” or the good night.  It is the celebration of the birth of Christ.  The celebration consisted of large quantities of food and drink with the main course being the “pernil,” or pork.

Today most Cuban-American households prepare a pork roast as the “pernil” main course, but to do it the traditional way a fully dressed pig would be used.  The pig would be prepared then placed in a pit for cooking.  A China box is the most convenient way of cooking a full pig today, though there are many other imaginative ways of doing it.  Once cooked  the outer skin layer would have a rather crispy texture.

There was always plenty food to go around, but what I remember from those days was the “flan“ and the “crema de vie.“  Everyone is familiar with flan. Crema de vie is a concoction made with condensed milk, eggs and rum. In Puerto Rico it is called “coquito” but Cubans don’t use the coconut. It’s a pretty potent drink.

Speaking of rum.  When it comes to celebrating no one can celebrate like a Cuban.  Cubans are party animals to the bone and will find any reason to party.  And the there cannot be a Cuban celebration without Bacardi Cuban Rum.  Yes that’s right before Bacardi became Puerto Rican rum it was a Cuban Thing, but that’s another story.

Oh about the presents.  Christmas is all about presents.  But in Cuba and most Latin American countries the presents are not given out until January 6th.,  the day of the Epiphany.  This is the day that the three kings (los tres reyes magos) visited the new born Christ child and presented him with their gifts.

Feliz Navidad

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