Christmas is right around the corner, and the Aruban community will once again celebrate the yearly festivities with family, gifts and of course food!
Christmas is probably the biggest global holiday, and every culture has its own spin on what their Christmas cuisine entails. In Aruba, our Christmas cuisine is again largely based on Latin-American influences, most notably form Venezuela. Ayacas and the famous pan di ham* are two crucial holiday dishes, along with stuffed turkey, roasted glazed ham topped with pineapples, arroz con pollo (rice and chicken) and potato salad, among other items. Traditional drinks include ponche crema (Aruban eggnog), chuculati pinda (hot chocolate with peanut butter), and homemade fruit punch. Desserts include bolo di pistachio (pistachio cake), bolo di cashupete (cashew cake), quesillo (flan), bolo preto (fruit cake), drigidek (gingerbread), pan boyo (bread cake) and more.
The Christmas dinner usually takes place on Christmas Eve, known locally as Noche Buena. Here, families from all sides reunite and enjoy the Christmas spirit till the late hours of the night.
* Pan di ham: Derived from the Venezuelan Pan de Jamon (rolled up bread with ham, raisins and olives
