El Salvador
The Celebration of Christmas
Christmas Celebration:
- In El Salvador, Christmas is usually celebrated through family gatherings and dinner on the night of Christmas Eve.
- Dinner is generally served before or after the entire family attends Mass (Misa del Gallo) on Christmas eve, which is celebrated in all churches exactly at midnight
- Through the night, people go to private parties or to clubs, drive to a nearby beach to see the sunrise, or visit neighbors.
Upper & middle class Salvadorian families eat a more "Americanized" dinner
Lower strata families eat chicken or homeade tamales
Horchata is one of the more famous drinks for Christmas in El Salvador
Firweorks
Fireworks also begin at midnight in celebration for the birth of baby Jesus.
Nativity scenes
- The Nativity Scene is very important to some families and it is a tradition in itself. Some may even get together to prepare it as a family project, and dedicate a whole space in their living room to it.