Noche Buena (meaning good night), is a Spanish term referring to the night of Christmas Eve, usually celebrated every 24 December. It is a tradition widely practiced by Filipinos after they hear the late evening Mass known as Misa de Gallo.

As family members dine together around midnight, dishes like Kare-Kare, Ham, Lechon, Pancit, Queso de Bola, Bibingka, Lumpia and Fried Chicken are served for everyone to enjoy.

But cooking the feast at home has become too much of hassle for some. They prefer to just dine outside and take-out meals rather than prepare multiple dishes at once.

To be honest sa case ko (in my case) as a health care provider I have to celebrate earlier sa lunch time because I have to work. I celebrate sa mga co-workers ko mag-pot lock din kami. Sa mga ibang Filipino, meron din kaming Misa de Gallo (For other Filipinos, there’s also Misa de Gallo) at night, but I can’t attend because I’m working but I’m going to church sa Christmas Day na.

How I wish maradaman ko din ang Pasko sa Pinas ( I could feel the Christmas spirit in the Philippines)! Nasanay na din malayo sa family (I got used to being away from my family). I celebrate Christmas cooking and baking din ng giveaway sa mga goodies ko sa mga friends and co-workers. Ganon pa rin nagluto sa bahay at least na-celebrate ko ang birthday ni Jesus.

I really find time to cook pa rin din sa husband ko (for my husband). Most of the stores and restaurants are closed here on Christmas. The best place to celebrate Christmas is there.

We eat in. It’s tradition, it’s homier and just doesn’t occur to us to do otherwise. For us, it doesn’t feel like Noche Buena if it’s in a restaurant. We usually have Pasta, Fried Chicken, Ham, Menudo, Cheese or Queso de Bola, Wine. For dessert, Cake or Cookies or Fruit Salad.

As a tradition in the Clemente residence in Hagonoy, we prefer to sit down and enjoy what the matriarch of the house serves. We savor the moment of togetherness, we laugh and update what is left behind during the past months we’ve not been together. Since some of the family members have their family of their own, most likely Christmas is considered as reunion for them. We usually enjoy Sopas (as it considered as the traditional menu in every household in Hagonoy). Inang always prepares Bulalo, Menudo, Chicken cooked in pineapple syrup, Chopsuey and Kare-Kare (which is my favorite). And, of course, the dessert like Halaya and Leche Flan.

What is usually seen on a Filipino family’s table during Noche Buena.

As I spent most of my Christmases in Bulacan, I just noticed that people in the ‘barrio’ open their houses as early as 5 a.m. to visitors/relatives who want to pay their respects to the elders. After attending an early morning mass they usually go straight to their lolos or lolas and even to their godparents.

Christmas is for families. And for me, it is a time of reflection and sharing. No matter how hard life is, you should always find time to share and be a blessing to others. It may not be in material things but in faith and love you it can be of great help. Let us not forget the true meaning of the celebration. Merry Christmas, hohohoho!

Eat out, kasi di kami nagno-Noche Buena mula nung nagkatrabaho kami lahat, at mula namatay tatay ko. Dati Noche Buena kami after Simba. Noon yun, elementary pa lang ako nun (we don’t eat Noche Buena at home since we started working and since my father died. Before, when I was still in elementary, we would eat Noche Buena after attending mass). Usually,

Ham, Tinapay Manok, Salad, ‘yun natatandaan ko (that’s what I remember).

Ngayon, may kanya kanyang lakad sila, sa new year na kami naghahanda (Nowadays, we have our own celebrations so we celebrate during the New Year instead).

I have never eaten out or eaten in a restaurant for Media Noche. Christmas Eve has always been with family at home, more so now that our parents are gone and all my siblings and I have are each other. Media Noche at my brother’s home usually has Prawns, Spaghetti, Cake, Fruit Salad (made by my sister) and fresh fruits. We’re not so particular about the food on the menu as long as we are with each other.

We prefer eating in. It’s kind of our tradition. After mass, we’d head straight home and Mama would cook for us. Eating in is more convenient than looking for restaurants, falling in line and waiting for the food to come.

In some cases, iikot kami sa eskinita namin kasi puro relatives namin ang nakatira dun, tapos we’ll share some food (we’d go around our street because almost all of our relatives live there then we’ll share our food). Minsan lang kami talagang complete, kasi ang kapatid ko nasa barko (We’re not complete most of the time because my sibling works on a cruise). Staples are: hot cocoa, coffee, fried rice, hotdog, egg, ham and bacon. Parang breakfast lang (Just like breakfast), nothing too grand.

We always eat in during Noche Buena. There are two reasons why. First, we have an ancestral house in our compound and in order to avoid fire, we have to stay at home and keep an eye on it while the whole neighborhood lights up firecrackers. Second, noche buena serves as the main gathering of our family and relatives since we do not celebrate Christmas together. In terms of food that we serve, we usually prepare ham, noodle dishes, random Filipino ulams and fruits.