Christmas in Peru

This year was my first Christmas away from my family in the United States and although I really missed my family this Christmas, I was able to experience Peruvian traditions for Navidad (Christmas) with my host family here in my community.

One tradition here in Peru is an event called a "chocolatada". It is a special event that takes place in most communities for the kids, it usually consists of games, a clown, presents, and hot chocolate. What more could you want for Christmas?!

A clown, Santa Claus, and elf at Chocolatada

Making the hot chocolate for the community, made from real melted chocolate, sugar, and milk!

Making the hot chocolate for the whole community

Kids and families at the Chocolatada

Sack race

Eating contest

My family had lots of nice decorations for Christmas, we put them up about a week before Christmas. Not quite like in the USA where we get out the Christmas lights Thanksgiving weekend! There was also a huge market that came to town just three days before Christmas selling toys, clothes, and gifts...talk about some last minute shopping! It was open until midnight on Christmas Eve.

Christmas decorations in my house

Christmas tree and manger made out of recycled bottles in main plaza

Christmas in Peru...Santa Claus with his llama!

The tradition in Peru is to cook all day on Christmas Eve and eat a monster meal on Christmas Eve at midnight. Usually people eat turkey, pork, or chicken, bread, rice, salsa, paneton (dry bread with fruit in it - extremely popular here!), peaches, hot chocolate, soda, and champagne. A whole turkey here can cost as much as 200 soles (about $80). My family preferred pork so we had an entire pork leg marinating on our kitchen table for two days prior to Christmas Eve...