Christmas in Venezuela is the main holiday during which Venezuelan families get together and rejoice. Christmas in Venezuela starts off on December 16th with pesebres or nativity scene display. The structure is a framework covered with canvas and painted accordingly.
The central point is a replica
of the manger at Bethlehem.
Other displays include modern-day electric trains, boats on the sea and cartoon figures, along with the traditional shepherds, pilgrims, kings, and the Holy Family.
Venezuelans attend a daily early morning church service between December 16th and 24th called Misa de Aguinaldo. In Caracas, the capital city, it is customary to roller-skate to this service. Holiday festivities culminate on Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) with the celebration of a late-night Misa de Gallo or Rooster's Mass. At the mass congregants sing lullabies to Jesus. Afterwards people return home for a traditional Christmas supper that may contain items like: "hallacas," "pan de jamón," "dulce de lechoza." The pan de jamón is long bread filled with cooked ham and raisins. The dulce de lechoza is a dessert made of green papaya and brown sugar.
Music plays an important role in the celebration of Christmas in Venezuela. The traditional songs of Christmas are known as Aguinaldos. Aguinalderos go from home to home singing their songs and playing traditional instruments such as the cuatro (a small, four strings guitar), the maracas (rattle) and the furruco. Gaitas or the festive songs of Hispanic origin also offer lots of excitement in the Christmas time. The Christmas festivities come to an official closing on January 6, the Day of the Reyes Magos (the three wise kings who came to visit Mary and the infant Jesus), when children receive toys and candies.
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