However, it is no secret to anyone that, in addition to turkey, each country in Latin America and the Caribbean has its typical Christmas and New Year dishes. In this post, we will review some of the most traditional Latin American and Caribbean Christmas foods.

The Venezuelan Hallacas (pronounced ayacas)

Venezuelan Hallacas is one of the Christmas dishes that most highlight the diversity and delicacy of Latin America and the Caribbean. They are similar to a tamale because they are wrapped in banana leaves. Beef, chicken, pork, olives, capers, raisins, onion, and paprika are added to the dough, all chopped and mixed. In each province, a particular ingredient is added The combination of these ingredients gives the Hallacas a unique flavor that will make your mouth water.

This dish is accompanied by hen salad and Pan de Jamón (ham bread) another traditional Venezuelan Christmas food. To close as dessert, the Christmas dinner ends with the tasting of the traditional lechoza (papaya) in syrup or the famous black cake.

The Mexican Guajolote

Guajolote is the way they refer to turkey in some regions of Mexico. In fact, it is often stated that the tradition of eating turkey was born in Mexican territory in pre-Columbian times. Aztec culture ate guajolote during the winter solstice to celebrate a festival called Panketzaliztli in honor of the god Huitzilopochtli. The truth is that guajolote or turkey are never missing from Mexican tables during the Christmas festivities.

Turkey can usually be stuffed with different stews or bathed in sauces. Also added to the Mexican Christmas dinner are chicken or pork and chili sauce, cod, and, for dessert, the traditional buñuelos.

The Argentine suckling pig

In Argentina, one of the most typical Christmas dishes is suckling pig. It can be stuffed or roasted. How they eat in the height of summer during the Christmas season, Argentines accompany the suckling pig with a cold salad. In addition, they usually eat a dish of European origin called Vitel Thone, which consists of very tender slices of meat accompanied by a tuna sauce with cream.

As a dessert, they can not miss the typical panettone and their popular drink mate.

The Colombian ajiaco

In Colombia, as in many Latin American countries, the Christmas dish varies by region. In Bogotá, the Colombian capital, as well as other places in this South American country, the ajiaco from Santa Fe stands out as a Christmas dish. This dish is served with pastusa potatoes, creole potatoes, shredded chicken, corn on the cob, peas, onion, coriander and capers. In addition, it is accompanied with milk cream. Other dishes such as creole hen and tamale are also served.

On the other hand, the buñuelo, the custard, and the puff pastry are the typical sweets accompanying the Christmas celebration.

The Cuban congrí

Rice with beans, called congrí, is the traditional dish of Cuban Christmas; roast pork as aside. In addition, dinner includes a tomato, carrot, lettuce, cucumber salad; yucca, and plantain.

As for the Christmas desserts, the nougat, the pudding, the flan, and the torrejas are always present.

Brazilian cod

Cod is one of the most used fish in Christmas dinners in Brazil. The most common is the golden cod, served with French fries, onion, eggs, garlic, and parsley. They also eat stuffed turkey, marinated pork tenderloin, and rice.

As a Christmas dessert, the torrijas and the panettone filled with brigadeiros stand out, one of the most traditional desserts in Brazil.

Ecuadorian stuffed turkey

For Ecuadorians, the main Christmas dish is a turkey stuffed with minced chicken and pork, walnuts or almonds, bread soaked with milk, raisins, peas, and carrots. The turkey is usually accompanied by a Russian salad dressed with peach sauce.

As for the typical sweets of the equatorial Christmas, there are the pristiños bathed with honey and rompope, a sweet drink based on milk, eggs, brandy, vanilla, and cinnamon.

Puerto Rican Green Banana Cakes

In Puerto Rico, the typical Christmas dish is the famous green banana cakes, which like the Venezuelan Hallaca are wrapped in banana leaves. They are filled with meat, rice, and pork. This dish is a mix of 3 cultures: the local indigenous peoples, the Spanish, and the African slaves. It should be noted that, in many Puerto Rican homes, these cakes are usually eaten all year round.

The typical Christmas dessert par excellence, which usually accompanies green banana cakes, is flan.

The Bolivian picana

Bolivian Christmas is accompanied by the picana, a broth that contains beef, chicken, pork, and lamb. In addition, they add potatoes, peas, carrots, and other vegetables to this typical Christmas dish that undoubtedly gives it a unique flavor.

In Bolivia, dessert is usually left for the morning of the 25th when families taste a cup of hot chocolate for breakfast with a piece of panettone.

These are just some of the best known Latin American and Caribbean Christmas foods.

We also invite you to read our post: “Yulimar Rojas: Venezuela’s Olympic Champion and Best Female Athlete”

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The extent of their popularity has led to these multi-colored creatures being exhibited in various venues. It is common to find alebrijes in public squares, markets, and renowned museums inside and outside of Mexico.

These types of traditional crafts are usually paper-mâché figures. Alebrijes are fantastic figures that combine physiognomic elements of various animals. It can be real or imaginary and painted with vibrant colors.

Origin of Alebrijes

When talking about the origin of alebrijes, we need to talk about the story of its creator Pedro Linares López. This artist was born in Mexico City in 1906 and inherited from his father the traditional art of making paper-mâché sculptures, an occupation known as cartonería in Mexico.When Pedro was 12 years old, he already knew how to make piñatas very well; he also made gloomy figures for the Day of the Dead and the Judas figures on Christmas Eve.

Since then, this artist became an expert in this craft. But when he was 30 years old, a terrible disease that brought him to the brink of death rendered him unconscious and plunged him into a strange dream. According to Pedro, he saw himself in a forest where strange and fantastic creatures lived. These beings accompanied Pedro for a long journey until he regained consciousness.

In his dream, the artist claimed that among the creatures he saw a donkey with butterfly wings, a lion with a dog’s head, and a rooster with bull’s horns among other strange animals. In addition, he heard that these beings shouted in chorus: “Alebrijes, Alebrijes…”. From this peculiar dream, the idea of creating these beautiful creatures and their name of them arose.

From Dream to Reality

After recovering completely, Pedro Linares decided to make known those strange beings who had accompanied him during his illness. Making use of his skills as an artisan, he began to take pieces of paper and model the figures that he had in his mind.

The figures were representations of what he had seen in his dream and the alebrijes were born. Such was the impression these creatures made throughout Mexico that they later became known in Latin America, the United States, and Europe.

In 1990, Linares received the National Prize for Sciences and Arts for his outstanding artistic work. This award was a recognition to the author for maintaining and preserving the popular traditions of Mexican art.

The artist passed away two years later at 86, leaving the alebrije culture alive, today a tradition continued by his relatives and other Mexican artists. Linares created several alebrijes for other renowned artists like Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. This collection is in the Anahuacalli Museum in Mexico City.

Monumental Alebrijes Parade

Alebrijes are an important part of the Mexican cultural and artistic imagination. For this reason, since 2007, the Museum of Popular Art of Mexico City has organized the Parade of Monumental Alebrijes. A pompous event that promotes the art and popular culture of Mexico.

The event takes place every year at the end of October. In this parade, hundreds of artisans take great care making alebrijes up to 4 meters high to take them for a walk through the historic center of the Mexican capital. It is a great party that includes dance, music and many colors.

Oaxacan Alebrijes

Alebrijes were born in Mexico City, but their popularity spread throughout the country, and many artisans from other states began to make their versions. Such is the case in Oaxaca, where make alebrijes with carved wood. In addition, Oaxacan alebrijes are inspired by nahuales, supernatural beings that can transform into animals.

We also invite you to read our post:The Unique Venezuelan Zulian Gaita

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This likable, easy-to-dance rhythm has its origins in the mid-19th century. When became popular in the most populated cities of the Dominican Republic, replacing the European contradanza.

Origins of the Word Merengue

There are many theories about the name and beginnings of this tropical music. According to Flérida de Nolasco, Dominican musicologist, the denomination “Merengue” originates from the fudge known by the same name. The short and precise rhythms of this dance seem like the beating of the egg whites, similar to when the fudge is prepared.

Other writers attributed the name to the French word “Meringue” a European dessert introduced to Haiti. This legendary dessert is made with a mixture of egg whites and sugar. Haitians began to use this word to refer to a danceable musical genre.

The renowned Dominican historian Emilio Rodríguez Demorizi says that merengue emerged as a form of dance between 1844 and 1855 in the nascent Dominican Republic. Years later it became an emblematic symbol of that country and a piece of popular music in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Perico Ripiao and Merengue Orchestras 

Like other danceable musical genres, merengue has its variants. The oldest style is the typical merengue or “Perico Ripiao” played with accordion, güira, and Tambora. The name of “Perico Ripiao” appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, when merengue found its way into the most popular social strata of the city of Santiago known as El Cibao. They say this name is associated with a brothel called “Perico Ripiao.”

At that time in the Dominican Republic, “ripping the parakeet” referred to the sexual act. As merengue was the music that was heard the most in that place, people began to associate the genre with the name of the place. The phrase “we are going to dance a Perico Ripiao” became popular.

Government decree

As it was considered an ordinary rhythm, the merengue was rejected by the highest social class in that country. As the dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo wanted to increase his popularity among the masses, he drove the arrival of this irresistible rhythm to all classes making it a Dominican symbol.

Starting in 1950, several merengue orchestras were formed. Instruments such as the trumpet, the saxophone, the double bass were added and thus the so-called orchestral merengue was born. In the 1960s, the migration of Dominicans to New York brought merengue out of the Dominican Republic.

It was at that time that renowned figures such as Francis Santana, Frank Cruz, Alberto Beltrán, Joseíto Mateo (known as the king of merengue), and Tatico Henriquez, emerged. Among the merengue classic songs of that time are: “El negrito del Batey”, “Caña brava” and “Compadre Pedro Juan”.

The 70s and the golden age

The 70s represent the consolidation of “The Merengue” in the broad Hispanic spectrum. This irresistible rhythm was popularized on a large scale, ideal to enliven the parties of Latin American families. In those years, Johnny Ventura, † 2021 known as El Caballo Mayor, stood out. Ventura with his orchestra, the Combo Show, put humor to the lyrics of his songs giving an innovative touch to the genre. Such is the case of one of his greatest hits “Un poquito para atrás por favor”. (A little bit back please).

Another merengue great figure was Wilfrido Vargas. With Los Beduinos Orchestra, Wilfrido revolutionized merengue by showing the public a more accelerated style. His name will remain as one of the most important and recognized artists in the history of Caribbean music. He also promoted too many singers and musicians who are currently widely recognized.

Figures driven by Wilfrido Vargas

From Los Beduinos orchestra, emerged talented singers such as Sandy Reyes, Mickey Taveras, Eddy Herrera, and Jorge Gómez, whom Wilfrido included in his group, because of his incredible high-pitched voice. The voice of this singer becomes confused with that of a woman due to its ability to raise the tone. Some songs that Gómez sang in the orchestra were “El jardinero” and “El loco y la luna” among others.

Rubby Pérez also deserves a particular mention. This unique interpreter took his first professional steps in the group “Los Hijos del Rey”, a creation of Wilfrido. He achieved the final consecration when he became a member of Los Beduinos.

Wilfrido’s Creations

In the Dominican Republic and New York, numerous orchestras emerged. Years later, the new generations fused merengue with other Caribbean rhythms and even with rock and roll.

One of the first groups created was “Los Hijos del Rey”. Referring to Wilfrido Vargas as King of the merengue as he began to identify him. In that group, Bony Cepeda, Raulín Rosendo and Fernandito Villalona participated as the main voice. All of them gained enormous popularity that led them to become professionally independent and build the reputation they have today.

Another group that reached a great impact with the support of Wilfrido, although it was not his creation, was “Las Chicas del Can”. From this orchestra, whose main characteristic is that it was made up of women, many others later emerged. The interpreters Mirian Cruz and Eunice Bentances stood out among others no less important than were part of the “Las Chicas del Can”.

Among Wilfrido’s other creations, the so-called “Altamira Banda Show” and the “New York Band” represent the extent of Vargas’ influence among the populous and renowned community of Dominicans and the Latin Caribbean in the upper Manhattan of New York.

Johnny Ventura vs Wilfrido Vargas

Everything seems to indicate that those rivalries between reggaeton artists and rappers are not new. In the years of The Merengue boom, there was a strong media rivalry between the greats Johnny Ventura “El Caballo Mayor” and Wilfrido Vargas. The impact of this rivalry in the Dominican Republic divided the Caribbean country in two: “the Wilfridists” and “the Johnny Venturists”.

On the one hand, was Johnny Ventura with his Combo Show, with a more traditional but humorous merengue. On the other Wilfrido Vargas with The Beduinos orchestra, who increases the speed creating a faster merengue. Both proposals had their public and their detractors.

The false attack

It is said that the rivalry was so strong that a whole media show was created between the two artists. One of the most remembered rumors of that situation was the supposed placement of a bomb on an airplane where Wilfrido and his orchestra would travel. Ventura’s group was accused of plotting that attack. However, the information was later found to be false.

Advantaged children

It is also commented that the creation of the orchestra Los Hijos del Rey by Wilfrido Vargas was intended to compete with the Combo Show of Johnny Ventura. Everything indicates that the operation did not work, since the group began to stand out in such a way, that at a certain moment, Los Hijos del Rey began to be more in demand than Wilfrido’s orchestra. This generated discontent among the members of Los Beduinos. That was the reason why Bonny Cepeda and Fernandito Villalona decided to consolidate their solo careers.

At present, Wilfrido Vargas and Johnny Ventura assure that there never was such a rivalry between them, but that it was something that was generated between the fans and the media. However, something must have happened. On one occasion they appeared on a television program, denying any dispute between them and even recorded together, to calm those who believed in that rivalry.

What is true, is that both are two of the greatest exponents of merengue. Each one has given it their personal touch while remaining in the collective memory of Latin American and Caribbean families.

Some of Johnny Ventura’s musical hits are “Patacón pisao”, “El tabaco” and “Capullo y Sorullo”. On the part of Wilfrido Vargas, “The African”, “Soy un hombre divertido” (I am a funny man) and “El baile del perrito” (doggy´s dance) stand out among many others.

Other Outstanding Merengue Figures

Other figures also emerged from the populous New York community. Such is the case of the prominent Milly Quezada, who emigrated to the Big Apple at an early age, where she graduated with honors in communication and media. At the same time, she built a musical career with the group formed with her brothers. Milly is one of the most reputable merengueras today.

Other figures and groups from the Dominican Republic also deserve a special mention. Among these, we can highlight Sergio Vargas, whose only affinity with Wilfrido is the Dominican nationality. Sergio is a singer who had a hard time achieving success. He usually says that was because of his physical appearance. However, the humble “Negrito de Villa”, as he is also known, is one of the singers with a respectable number of internationally popularized hits. We can mention: “Los diseñadores”, “Al ritmo de la noche”, “Si algún día la vez”; his version of the super hit “La quiero a morir” and “Marola”, among others.

Other highly successful groups are Cuco Valoy and his son Ramón Orlando Valoy; El conjunto Quisqueya; The Rosario brothers, Josie Esteban and his patrol 15, among many others no less important.

Merengueros from Puerto Rico

This irresistible rhythm also has its representatives in Puerto Rico. From there, stand out the unique Olga Tañón and Elvis Crespo among others.

The 90s and Actual Times

At the end of the 80s and the beginning of the 90s, new merengue figures appeared. Such is the case of the renowned musician and singer Juan Luis Guerra. With his group called “Juan Luis Guerra and 440”, he creates more stylized merengue.

It is known that Juan Luis studied at the prestigious Berklee College in Boston. Initially, he had the idea of ​​making a jazz version of the Dominican merengue, and he did it in his first production entitled “Soplando” (Blowing). After its commercial failure, he began to reformulate his project.

Later his next record productions came out with a more stylized Merengue and with poetic lyrics that adjusted very well to the generation close to the end of the century. His album “Mientras más lo pienso, tú”, includes songs like “Tú” and “Me enamoro de ella”. (I fall in love with her).

He achieves enormous popularity with his albums “Bachata Rosa” and “Ojala, que llueva café” (I hope it rains coffee). The most liked songs on this one are “Woman del Callao”, “Visa para un sueño” and the one with the same name as the album. Since then he has become an ambassador of merengue in the world.

The new merengue trends

In the 1990s, the children of Dominican immigrants in New York began to fuse the urban American rhythm of rap and hip hop, with the irresistible Dominican rhythm. This was how The Merengue house or Merengue hip hop aroused.

The first groups to achieve recognition are Proyecto Uno, Illegales and the unforgettable Sandy and Papo. Later, many others groups became known, being Fulanito one of the most popular.

Since then the business and the taste of the new generations in music changed and from those movements, the urban rhythm and its aspects came out. However, the irresistible merengue does not stop dancing.

Today, merengue continues to be one of the most listened to dance genres in family celebrations, friends’ gatherings, and festive events. Its interpreters have spread all over the world, mainly captivating the Hispanic public with that joy that characterizes this irresistible tropical rhythm.

We also invite you to read our post: “The Unique Venezuelan Zulian Gaita”

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Origin

All the information read agrees in affirming that the exact origin of the gaita was lost in time. In turn, the name, as described by those who have delved into the investigation of the subject such as Agustín Pérez Piñango, and Régulo Díaz, The qualifier of gaita has prevailed in Zulia because of the similarity, with the demonstrations of the same order that are usual in some regions of Spain, especially in Galicia, where the Galician gaita stands out. These manifestations are a boisterous party in which happy tunes are expressed based on instrumentation.

This type of musical manifestation was rooted in the popular Zulian classes. These communities emulated the Hispanic tradition, giving particular characteristics that give life to a Creole and mestizo party. Initially, the gaita is linked to the Catholic liturgy in December, in honor of the Virgin.

Over time, it underwent several transformations, but it maintained that small-town essence and that Zulian, joyful, popular, emotional, sentimental, and deeply religious affinity, thanks to the devotion to the Chiquinquira Virgin.

Another version

Another version is also known, which places the origin of the Zulian gaita in the canton of Gibraltar, a region located in the southern area of Lake Maracaibo. There was a great introduction of African slaves to attend the workshop on the farms in the area. It is mentioned, that the inspiration for these songs was the result of the bad treatment received by the slaves. They began to sing songs that represented their complaints about the attitude of the oppressive master.

Giving origin to the gaita of the southern area of the lake, whose history evokes a painful event for Africans vilely subjected to slavery.

The result

Through time this dispute over the origin of the gaita endured the opinion among its cultists. However, this has not affected the creation and development of the musical manifestation. Deeply rooted among the Zulian people and spread throughout the Venezuelan territory.

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