GrowingOlderHopeWiser

Food traditions on Christmas Eve in my family varied. We had Tamales on the Colombian side of the Jurado family. The Cuban Gonzalez side enjoyed roast pork. Some other traditions included Midnight Mass. And, in the city, Santa Claus would come via the fire escape. We also celebrated Los Reyes Magos de Oriente (Three Kings) and the American Traditional Christmas Day.

Los Tamales de Colombia

The ladies in the Jurado would gather and take over the kitchen and dining table starting on Christmas Eve day. They prepared, cooked, and assembled their traditional Colombian Tamales.

There are many different regional Tamales in Colombia. My family prepared tamales with chicken breast, pork, pork belly, and beef. They wrapped them in banana leaves and tied them neatly with string. The marinade ingredients included onion, garlic, green and red peppers, and scallions. They also used cumin, Azafran with achiote for coloring, parsley, cilantro, and two cups of water. Blend thoroughly in a blender. Marinaded the meats over night each in a separate zip lock bags.

The fillings for the tamale include a piece of each precooked meat. Add sauteed onions and tomato. Include sliced potato, some peas, and carrots.

One of the most essential flavor ingredients is rendered pork fat. Mix the pork fat with Sazon Goya and azafran to color it with Masa flour for the wrap ingredient. Use cleaned banana leaves to wrap and tie up kitchen string into square little packets. steam for one hour. Meanwhile enjoy the bonding with the older female family members swapping stories and family history.

Cuban Roast Pork Feast

The Cuban side of my family celebrated Christmas Eve with roast pork. We also had white rice, black beans, and plantains. And you can’t forget the yucca with garlic olive oil drizzle.

I remember one particular Christmas Eve when I was about 6 years old. I looked up at the table where two whole piglets stacked in their crates. They were awaiting the preparations and marinade. The marinade played a crucial role in infusing the pork with the vibrant flavors of the Caribbean.

The combination of citrus juices, garlic, and aromatic spices forms a harmonious blend. This blend enhances the natural taste of the pork. The acidity of the citrus juices helps to tenderize the meat. The marinade ingredients include 1 cup Garlic Cloves, 1 tsp Black Pepper, and 3 tbsp Cumin. It also has 1 tbsp Salt, 2 tbsp Oregano, and 1 cup Olive Oil. Additionally, it requires 1 ¹⁄₂ cup Naranja (sour orange) Agria and 4 Limes (juiced).

Christmas Eve Traditions

With my Colombian Aunts Mary and Julia, we had the tradition of attending midnight mass. The event was beautiful and festive. In the city, on my mother’s Cuban side, all the children waited in a room. They anticipated Santa Claus arriving via the fire escape. (No reindeer in the city) after midnight we got to open our presents. The best part about being a Cuban kid is receiving more presents on January 6. This day is known as the day of the Epiphany (Three Wise Men) or Los Reyes Magos. The Three Kings Day included a parade.

And finally, we enjoyed the traditional American turkey or ham with all the trimmings on Christmas day.

Happy Holidays! I hope you enjoy my little stories. I would love to read your comments. Please share some of your family traditions.