Christmas Greetings In Bolivia: How To Say "Merry Christmas"?

If you're planning to spend Christmas in Bolivia, you'll notice that the country's traditions differ from those in many other parts of the world. Bolivia is a predominantly Catholic country, and Christmas is widely celebrated. The traditional greeting for Merry Christmas in Bolivia is Feliz Navidad.

Christmas in Bolivia is said as 'Feliz Navidad'

Christmas in Bolivia is said as "Feliz Navidad". Bolivia is a predominantly Catholic country, so it's no surprise that Christmas is widely celebrated there. Traditions are similar to those in the West, but there are some interesting differences.

In the month leading up to Christmas, decorations start to go up, including huge trees and colourful lights in the main plazas and public spaces. Most families decorate their apartments with an abundance of flashing lights, which are particularly spectacular when viewed at night from the Teleferico (cable car system). Thousands of multicoloured blinking lights can be seen across the entire valley, from one end of the city to another.

The 24th of December is the important day in Bolivia, as it is in most of Europe. Bolivian families get together and share a traditional dinner called Picana, a hearty soup or stew consisting of several types of meat, potatoes, corn, and various other vegetables and spices. After dinner, many families have a religious session, including singing, praying, or reading the Bible.

As midnight approaches, people start to wish each other a "Feliz Navidad" ("Merry Christmas"). Some families even do a countdown, similar to a New Year's Eve countdown, before setting off fireworks. At midnight, it's also common to let off firecrackers.

After the fireworks, the adults enjoy drinks while the children open their presents. Many families stay up well into the night, drinking and chatting.

Christmas Day is a rest day in Bolivia, similar to Boxing Day in Australia. On Christmas morning, many families have hot chocolate and panettone, a delicious sponge cake with dried fruit and raisins.

Although Western Christmas traditions like turkey dinners and decorated trees are becoming more common in Bolivia, there are many unique rituals that only take place in this South American country. For example, people do not generally exchange presents on Christmas Day. Instead, gifts are exchanged on Epiphany (January 6th), when children receive gifts from the Three Kings. The night before Epiphany, kids leave their shoes outside their door, and the Three Kings leave presents in their shoes.

The main Christmas meal is 'picana'

In Bolivia, Christmas Eve is the most important time of the festive season. Families attend a midnight mass, affectionately called the "Mass of the Rooster", before returning home to enjoy a traditional Bolivian dinner. This meal is centred around a soup called picana, which is made with meat, potatoes, corn, and other vegetables.

Picana is a slow-cooked stew, often made with a variety of meats, including beef, chicken, lamb, and pork. It also contains several vegetables, including a special type of potato called tunta or white chuño, which is freeze-dried in the Andean region of Latin America. Tunta is obtained by washing the freeze-dried potatoes, and it can be challenging to find outside of Bolivia. If you can't get your hands on it, you can simply add more potatoes to the soup.

The soup-making process can be time-consuming, as some ingredients need to be cooked separately. It's recommended to use a pressure cooker or Instant Pot to speed up the cooking time. The beef is typically cooked first, followed by the addition of lamb and chicken. The vegetables are usually sauteed together, and then the meats are added to the pot. Some recipes also call for frying green chillies and blending them before adding to the soup.

To complete the dish, corn and anise are cooked separately with a touch of sugar. Once the potatoes and meat are fully cooked, the wine, beer, bay leaves, and oregano are added, and the soup is brought to a boil. Picana is traditionally served in a bowl, with one piece of each type of meat, potatoes, vegetables, and corn.

Every Bolivian family has its own unique recipe for picana, and it is a key part of their Christmas celebrations. It is a hearty and delicious meal, perfect for sharing with loved ones on a warm Bolivian Christmas Eve.

Christmas is celebrated from Christmas Eve until Epiphany (6th January)

In Bolivia, Christmas is a deeply religious affair, and the festivities kick off on Christmas Eve with the Misa de Gallo, a midnight mass that celebrates the birth of Jesus. The name, which translates to "Mass of the Rooster", comes from the fact that the service ends at dawn, coinciding with the rooster's crow.

After the mass, families gather for a feast. The traditional meal is picana, a hearty soup or stew made with chicken, beef, lamb, or pork, and served with potatoes and corn. The meal is accompanied by salads, roast pork or beef, and an array of tropical fruits. As Christmas falls during the summer in Bolivia, cold drinks are often enjoyed, and the occasion is marked with a toast.

Christmas Day is a more relaxed affair, with no set traditions. However, it is common to drink hot chocolate and eat buñuelos, a type of pastry drizzled with syrup, the following morning.

Christmas decorations in Bolivia differ from those in Western countries. While Christmas trees and exterior decorations are becoming more popular, they are usually found only in larger towns and cities. The most important decoration in a Bolivian home is the pesebre, or nativity scene, which is also prominent in churches. These nativity scenes can vary in size and materials, from small wooden figurines to large displays with dozens or even hundreds of figures.

Christmas gift-giving is not a widespread tradition in Bolivia, although some families do exchange presents after the Christmas Eve meal. Children, however, typically receive gifts on Epiphany (January 6th), when they wake to find their shoes filled with treats. This tradition commemorates the Wise Men who brought gifts to Jesus.

The Christmas season in Bolivia concludes on Epiphany, when Catholic families take their "Baby Jesus" figurine from their nativity scene to be blessed at mass. In some places, statues of the Baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary are carried through the streets in procession.

Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is called the 'Misa de Gallo' (Mass of the Rooster)

In Bolivia, Christmas Eve is the most important time of the festive season. Families attend a midnight mass called Misa del Gallo, or "Mass of the Rooster", because locals return home early in the morning, as the rooster crows. The tradition of midnight Mass on Christmas Eve was first recorded by Egeria, a Galician woman who went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land around 381. She witnessed how the early Catholics of Jerusalem honoured the Christmas mystery with a midnight vigil at Bethlehem.

The name "Mass of the Rooster" comes from an old European folk tale. According to the story, Jesus was born at the stroke of midnight, and the task of announcing his birth fell to the roosters. The first rooster flew to the roof of the stable and proclaimed in a human voice, "Christ is born!" The second followed, crying out, "In Bethlehem!" The rooster was the first creature to call humanity to worship on the eve of Jesus' birth, and so the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking peoples of the world refer to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve as the Misa del Gallo.

In Bolivia, the Christmas Eve Mass is followed by a traditional sit-down meal of picana del pollo, a stew made of chicken with peas, carrots, and potatoes. The holiday continues through to the Epiphany on January 6, when children receive gifts.

Christmas trees and nativity scenes are becoming more popular

In Bolivia, Christmas is a very important holiday. The country has a high population of Christians, most of whom are Roman Catholic, with the rest being Protestant. The country's indigenous heritage also influences its Christmas rituals, making them unique in South America.

Christmas Eve is the most important time of the season in Bolivia. Families attend a midnight mass called the "Misa del Gallo" or "Mass of the Rooster" because people return home early in the morning when the roosters are awakening. After the mass, families enjoy a traditional Bolivian dinner and festivities. The traditional meal is "picana", a soup made from chicken, beef or lamb, and pork, served with potatoes and corn. It is accompanied by salad, fruit, and roast beef or pork. The next morning, people drink hot chocolate and eat fried buñuelos (sweetbread).

Although Western Christmas traditions like decorated trees and gift exchanges are becoming more common in Bolivia, there are still many unique rituals that only take place in this country. For example, people do not exchange presents on Christmas Day, but instead on Epiphany (January 6th), when children receive gifts. The night before, kids place their shoes outside their door, and the Three Kings leave presents in their shoes.

Nativity scenes, called "pesebre" or "nacimiento", are very common Christmas decorations in Bolivia. They are the centerpiece in people's homes and are also prominent in churches. In addition, Christmas trees and other Western-style decorations have become more popular in recent years, especially in larger towns and cities.

In Bolivia, Christmas is also a time to celebrate the harvest and give thanks to Mother Earth for her bounty. There are often displays of traditional song and dance, with a focus on the baby Jesus's impoverished beginnings.

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