Celebration of Philippine Christmas is not complete without noche buena, which, incidentally, is going to be celebrated this evening (every 24th of the year). It’s like the Thanksgiving in the US, when members of the family come together and eat, but any similarity probably ends there.
In Spanish, “noche” literally means “night” and “buena” means “good,” so the noche buena is a good night’s meal. This is different from “media noche” or the midnight meal to welcome the New Year (that’s on December 31, but have you ever wondered why New Year’s Eve is not the evening of January ?). So, what’s the usual food on the table during noche buena?
Keso de bola. Christmas is not Christmas without keso de bola (or queso de bola). On the other hand, keso de bola is a zombie throughout the year and comes alive during Christmas. “Keso” is, of course, cheese. “Bola” is ball. Put them together, what do you get? A nice noche buena (and, yes, “ball of cheese”).
Tsokolate and tinapay. “Tsokolate” is chocolate and “tinapay” is bread, though the bread is not strictly paired with tsokolate. The suman, for instance, goes well with tsokolate. And bread is eaten with spaghetti (don’t look at me, bread is even stuffed with ice cream at times).
Hamon. It’s simply Christmas ham, but the variations could be mouthwatering. In another sense, “hamon” is also the Filipino word for “challenge,” and you’ll realize after eating hamon that limiting weight gain and preventing heart attack are such challenging tasks.
Suman and other kakanin. A kakanin is bound to end up on the noche buena table: suman, bibingka, puto and others.
Fruit salad. Fruits, when mixed as a salad, are for noche buena. Fruits, not as a salad and unprocessed, are for the New Year celebrations (round fruits are supposed to bring you luck in the next year). We don’t have fruit salad at home during noche buena, but I heard others usually have this. I’m not sure, so please let us know through the comment section below.
Spaghetti and macaroni. Ok, I can see that you’re eyebrows are going up. I also have doubts if spaghetti, macaroni and other pasta are generally served during Christmas, but let’s see what our readers would say.
If we missed out anything, don’t hesitate to step forward and let us know through the comment section below. Each region in the Philippines has different food variations and each one will definitely have different opinions. Let’s hear what you have to say.
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#1 by roy on March 7, 2009 - 11:25 am
Hi Fred,
You are right on the mark RE those traditional holiday food. Yes, quezo de bola is almost a cliche, just like castanas. Why they should be part of Chritsmas feast I have no idea. But there was a time I was buying quezo de bola even just the small one.
Fruit salad is a must during Christmas. If one cannot afford it, one can ask a neighbor who made one at least for one small tupperware. Usually, it’s not hard to ask for one.
In the 80s, there was peso devaluation & there was no import liberalization yet. Most fruit salad ingredient was imported. Apples were imported. The school decreed no fruit salads during classroom christmas parties. One classroom dared to disobey the order. The adviser of that class sent me a glass of fruit salad hand delivered by her student.
By the way, because of the high cost of making fruit salad, Filipinos learned how to come up w/ a different fruit salad. It’s a fruit salad w/ macaroni. So I call it fruited macaroni. It’ s good and can serve more people.
#2 by Fred on March 10, 2009 - 4:19 pm
Hahaha, it’s funny how we could relate to the experience of others. It’s always refreshing to reminisce about our past through the eyes (or shall I say, comments here?) of others. I’ve tasted the “fruited macaroni”, as you call it, Roy (although I can’t relate with your stories about the 80s (I wasn’t born yet at that time…hehehe). Kidding aside, Christmas is just not Christmas without certain kinds of food (and fruits).
#3 by roy on March 11, 2009 - 12:51 pm
Oh Fred.. Early 80s was terrible. An apple cost cost P35 then. Very Expensive when a minimum bus fare was .65 centavos then. I accompanied my friend who bought 3 pcsI think at San Andres Market. For a highschool student then who do not see P 100 always, I thought it was frivolous to spend that much over what– apples.
The fruited macaroni was frowned upon by those that insist that fruit salad should be just that–all fruits, preferably all imported and none of the macaroni as extender. But I do have friends who have grown accustomed to it, they expect I’ve set aside some for them.
That said, I miss those years. My only concern then was how to afford intramural uniforms, and perhaps new shoes to go w/ it.
#4 by Rocky Torres on November 16, 2009 - 6:36 pm
Maligayang pasko! Yes, those memorable Christmas foods. Suman, Christmas ham, fruit salad, tikoy, bibingka, pancit, chocolates & cadies, brownies…