How is Christmas Celebrated in Honduras?
by Mindy Rodriguez, wife of Pastor Jaime in El Progreso
I will tell you how Honduras celebrates Christmas. We make tamales with pork or chicken (that is a typical dinner in Honduras). People with scarce resources just have tamales with beans and cheese, without meat. Some people like to eat chicken sandwiches with apples and grapes. The
Jabes, Mindy and Jaime Rodriguez in El Progreso, Honduras
tradition is to stay awake until midnight on Christmas Eve. Some families play a gift-giving game called “El Amigo Secreto [the Secret Friend]“. Each family gathers, with presents, around a box filled with little pieces of paper (on which are written family members’ names). Each person draws a name from the box and gives their gift to that person. Another tradition is for the church families to gather, with each family bringing some kind of food from their home. Everyone eats together; even those without resources can come and eat. During Christmas, families gather together. Family members working in a distant city try to come home and be with their family. We used to celebrate Christmas with firecrackers also, but that is now prohibited in Honduras.
Christmas by Heart to Honduras employee German Pinell
In many homes especially where people live with grandparents they have a great tradition to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Many people decorate their homes with the Nativity scene. They also decorate Christmas trees (using lights now more than before) I remember seeing trees decorated with small colored balloons. It is also very traditional for children and adults to buy new clothes for 2 special days (Dec 24) and (Dec 31).
We always have very good food for Christmas. Tamales of all sizes and different meats. It is very common to stuff the tamales with chicken or pork. Every time we see a friend and they look a little “thick”, we say, “You look like you’ll make tasty tamales this Christmas!”
We really enjoy setting off firecrackers at Christmas time. If you have money you can buy firecrackers that come in all sizes and colors. Some cities prohibit fireworks, but many Hondurans still fire them during this time of year! Many Hondurans miss this fun tradition when they live in other countries.
Some Hondurans have secret friends they give gifts to. In rural families with little money they give gifts to your children especially when they pass the grade (school).
Christmas is for families to be together, since many people are on vacation in the last weeks of December (children traditionally do not have school in December and January). It is tradition to stay late at church and then at midnight embrace family and friends.
Give a Gift that Gives Twice this Holiday Season.
School Uniforms for Children
- Medicine for the Karen Smith Clinic in Canchias,
- School Uniforms for Children,
- Books for the School of Discipleship Library,
Heart to Honduras has also created some unique Christmas Bundles. These are a a special collection of goodies and Kingdom Gifts bundled together especially for the Christmas season this year.
- 2 one-pound bags of Boston Stoker’s unique coffees created just for Heart to Honduras (Christmas Blend & Heart to Honduras Select),
- One coffee mug,
- 1/2 pound bag of chocolate covered espresso beans.
- Children’s hygiene pack – Physically help protect a child.
- School Uniform – Enable a child to continue their schooling.
- Send a Student to Camp – Spiritually pour into the life of a youngster.
- HTH’s typical Ministry House, a 16′X18′ wood frame house, built on property already owned by the family,
- a water filter,
- and kitchen accessories such as pots and pans to cook with.
- Make Christmas special for one of the boys at Proniño Children’s Home by sponsoring him this year. Your $25 donation will ensure that he receives gifts and a special Christmas dinner.
End of Year Giving
