Reminiscing, Christmas Eve or Nochebuena Options

[foodiesleuth]

Recently I have been reminiscing about my childhood growing up in Cuba in the 40'and 50's. Here are some thoughts about Nochebuena, the traditional Christmas Eve dinner...

Christmas Eve, or Nochebuena--for Cuban families is often the biggest feast day of the season, when friends and family, young and old alike sit around a table laden with traditional dishes, telling stories that grow more colorful each year.

Beautifully set tables, with usually, white linens, crystal and china, and groaning with roast pork, black beans and rice, yuca (cassava) boiled and served drizzled with mojo (Moe-Ho) sauce, fresh salad that usually included Boston-type bib lettuce, ripe tomatoes and watercress, buñuelos, turrones (nougat style almond candy - one soft from Jijona and one hard from Alicante, both imported from Spain) Cidra (alcoholic apple cider) and wines. Dried figs, fresh apples, plums, pears and nuts (imported from the US) would show up at the tables.

After "la cena" or meal - but it implies more than meal, I guess feast would come closer - everyone would get ready to go to church for the Misa de Gallo (mass of the rooster) or Midnight Mass.

Sonia

[mayra]

That sounds lovely. What a wonderful way to celebrate nochebuena. I remember as a child similar feasts at my grandmother's house in Cuba. Somehow, it's not the same anymore.