Christmas Holidays in Honduras
Written by Sandra DunlapLast updated 2004-12-11 09:07:44
Christmas in Central America - time for food, family, fireworks, and fun.
The season started the first week of November when the shops and malls started putting up the decorations and having pre-Christmas sales. The markets started selling rompopo base - a local version of eggnog and the ubiquitos fruitcake. Turkeys, whole pork legs, stuffed pork roasts, and lamb appear in the markets at this time of the year - a pleasant change from beef, chicken, and tilapia.
Fruits and vegetables are in abundance this time of year. Watermelons and canteloupes are available as well as pineapple, strawberries, blackberries, and papaya. As far as vegetables go - you name it and it can be found - red and green cabbages, sweet peppers, beets, potatoes, carrots and typical fare such as malanga and yuca. We head over to the open air market in Barrio San Juan twice a week to buy our vegetables. Market days are Thursday and Sunday. The holiday season is a time of plenty as far as the availability of meats and produce.
Like much of North America, Christmas lights are a large part of the celebration. Private homes, government buildings, municipal parks, and merchants all get into the spirit and bedeck themselves with lights. Santa makes the rounds at a variety of public gatherings handing out candies to children of all ages.
Food and drink are a major part of the holiday celebrations. Rum, tamales, and a wide variety of sweets are served at holiday parties at this time of the year. Being the "new gringos" in the neighborhood and this being our first holiday season, we were well fed by the neighbors!
Fireworks are a large part of the holiday celebrations here in Honduras and throughout much of Central America. Barrio San Juan is also the place to buy fireworks for those so inclined. The stands line the streets across from the fruit and vegetable vendors. Just about anything is available - from simple sparklers and snappers on up to Roman Candles, and aerial fireworks like Chrysanthemums.
New Year's Eve is marked by many people having family and friends over to ring out the old and bring in the new year. Fireworks are more prevalent now then on Christmas Eve. One of the traditions is building a figure stuffed with straw or newspaper and firecrackers to represent something you want to get rid of or don't like. The neighbors built a straw and cloth lion, symbol of the soccer club they DON'T like. At midnight, it was set ablaze while firecrackers, aerial bombs, and other assorted explosive devices were set off in the surrounding neighbohoods.
