5 facts about
Noche Buena
NOCHEBUENA MARKS THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS EVE
IN HISPANIC CULTURE, WHERE CHRISTIANS EVERYWHERE
FROM PUERTO RICO TO THE PHILIPPINES CELEBRATE WITH A
LARGE TRADITIONAL FEAST. CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT HOLIDAYS OF THE SEASON, THE CELEBRATION IS
ALSO KNOWN AS NOCHE BUENA, LA CENA DE NOCHEBUENA
OR NAVIDAD. HERE'S EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT NOCHEBUENA, WHICH TRANSLATES TO “GOOD
NIGHT”:
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1
As the biggest Christmastime meal,
the Nochebuena dinner often
includes roast pork, or lechón,
as the main course. Alcoholic
beverages, including a traditional
one that includes coconut milk,
are usually enjoyed throughout
the meal. In Mexico, for example,
dinner can include homemade
tamales, atole, bacalao (cod) a
la Vizcaina or romeritos en revoltijo (a dish made with Mexican greens)
accompanied by buñuelos (small doughnuts) for dessert and ponche
(punch) to toast. In other Latin American countries, especially those in
the Caribbean, the main dish is roast pork with rice and beans, pasteles
(tamales) and different salads.
2
Westpac’s John Casey (left), Director of Banks, and Marie Josephine Ocampo
(right), BPI Senior Vice President and Head of Payments and Remittance Group
confirm partnership between the two banks, making payments to the Philippines
with one of the big Australian banks easier than ever.
Sending money to the Philippines has
just become even easier with Westpac.
Using a Westpac account, within online
banking, customers will be able to
transfer money directly to most banks in
the Philippines for a low ongoing cost of
AUD 5 per payment.
There is a limit of AUD 3000 per customer per day and
the funds can be distributed beyond Bank of Philippine
Islands (BPI) to most banks in the Philippines. This new
payment service means customers can send money
anytime within hours.
Kim Merlo, Westpac’s Head of Retail Foreign
Exchange, says “The Filipino community is an important
part of Australia, and we are proud and excited to
introduce this new service to our customers. LitePay
offers a secure and safe way to transfer money to family
and friends back home – another way Westpac is
supporting the Filipino community.”
Want to know more about Westpac’s new online
payment service? Visit westpac.com.au/litepay.
In Spain, a traditional Nochebuena dinner will see people gathering to feast
on seafood, tapas, which are small plates of food, and other dishes with
their families at bars and taverns. "Some families attend midnight mass
before or after, although many families are still finishing dinner around the
table at midnight," according to food site Spain Recipes.
3
A red poinsettia has become the symbol of
the holiday. In Mexico, where the flower
is native, it is known as the "flor de
e
Nochebuena," or Christmas Eve
flower. It blooms in November and
d
December as revelers prepare
for the holiday. Mexican
legend tells of a girl who once
was on her way to Mass but
didn't have a gift for baby
Jesus. She gathered green
flowers, but by the time she
arrived, they had turned red. Itss bright
red color reminds us of the holidayy season
and cheers up a cold winter landscape.
cape.
4
Cuban and Puerto Rican Christians celebrate the holiday by playing
dominos with friends and family. They also traditionally cook entire pigs in
a Caja China box over burning coals.
5
In Latin America, families often ring in Nochebuena after late-night Misa de
Gallo Mass, which commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. The name of
the Mass translates to Mass of Roosters, and comes from an old tale about a
rooster that crowed to herald the birth.
[from the International Business Times; ibtimes.com]
20
DECEMBER 2016
|
ANG KALATAS
www.kalatas.com.au