Christmas in Chile

However, Chile also neighbors the U.S. and respects its indigenous heritage, so local Christmas celebrations blend various customs.

Like most Catholics, Chileans attend church services, spend quality time with family, and enjoy festive foods. However, locals begin the festivities much earlier than Christmas Eve, observing the Novena tradition.

Although the climate in South America is different from North America, the Christmas atmosphere is pretty much the same, proving that people create the festive spirit themselves.

La Novena De Aguinaldos

La Novena de Aguinaldos, or simply La Novena, is a unique South American Christmas tradition observed in Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, and Ecuador.

A Novena is a nine-day period from December 16 to December 24, marking Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.

Chileans gather every evening of the Novena with family, friends, and neighbors to pray, sing traditional Christmas hymns, and eat festive foods. The rituals differ from region to region.

In some towns, people gather in large groups and choose someone to act as Mary and Joseph. Then, they designate a new house each night to serve as an “inn” for the improvized Mary and Joseph.

A couple portraying Mary and Joseph leads a procession of neighbors to the designated “inn,” after which they ask the house owner for shelter. When the house owner lets them in, everyone prays around the nativity scene.

However, many families perceive the Novena tradition primarily as a family get-together, gathering only with their dearest people and focusing on fun activities and a delicious dinner rather than praying.

Each night of the Novena has a special meaning and prayer focusing on one topic – reconciliation, understanding, respect, sincerity, dialogue, simplicity, generosity, faith, and hope.

La Noche Buena & Quiet Christmas Day

Chileans celebrate Christmas on December 24, calling it La Noche Buena – the Good Night.

People gather with immediate and extended family members for a traditional feast. Since Chileans are open-hearted and hospitable people, many locals also invite friends and neighbors.

After returning home from the Midnight Mass, Chileans exchange gifts. However, the tradition isn’t as widespread as in the U.S., and many people only make gifts for children. Children usually open their gifts and head straight to bed.

On Christmas Day, locals relax after the night of celebrating. Some people watch Christmas movies, go to the beach, or sleep throughout the entire day. Many Chileans gather for a laid-back Christmas Day barbecue.

Santa Brings the Gifts

Santa Claus isn’t as famous in South America as in the U.S. – children typically expect gifts from baby Jesus. However, Saint Nick is a more prominent figure in Chile than anywhere else in Latin America.

Chilean children call Santa Claus Viejito Pascuero or Papa Noel, translating as Father Christmas. Santa Claus in Chile was influenced by American Santa, so he has a long white beard, round glasses, and a plump friendly face.

Chilean Santa wears the traditional red suit with white fur trims and a black buckled belt despite the heat. However, he enters houses through windows rather than chimneys because fireplaces are uncommon in Chile.

Since reindeer aren’t native to Chile, Santa’s sleigh is drawn by llamas, so plush Santas on llamas, llamas in Santa hats, and llama toys singing Jingle Bells are common in local stores. People in Chile’s rural regions often depict Santa as a herder.

Every Chilean child writes a letter to Santa, telling him what they want for Christmas. Chilean post offices collect the letters and run a charity program for underprivileged kids, fulfilling their wishes.

Christmas Decorations in Chile

Christmas decorations in Chile are creative and extravagant, very different from what Americans and Europeans are used to. Forget about fragrant firs and snowmen because they don’t fit the hot weather of Chilean December.

Although Chileans consider the Christmas tree an important symbol of the holiday, they usually put up artificial trees. The trees don’t strive to mimic natural pines and firs but boast original designs.

For example, you may come across a Christmas tree from wood, metal rods adorned with string lights, toys, fruits, beer cans, or anything else.

The municipality of Santiago, Chile’s capital, is especially innovative, never failing to amaze locals and tourists with a new Christmas tree design.

Other towns set up vibrant festive displays on main city squares, in parks, and in other public places.

Snowflakes and snowmen aren’t common since Chile doesn’t have snow, and reindeer aren’t accustomed to the heat. However, people love to decorate their homes and streets with other holiday symbols, such as gift boxes, angels, and bows.

Chileans don’t usually decorate their house exteriors and keep the interior decoration moderate, limiting it to one room. Some Chileans refrain from any decorations but the nativity scene, which can be found in most Chilean homes.

Nativity scenes in Chile are often handmade from clay and passed on from generation to generation.

Churches, schools, and other public places set up life-sized nativity scenes featuring not only Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in his manger but also other biblical characters.

Midnight Mass

Christmas in Latin America isn’t yet as commercialized as in many northern countries, so the church attendance rate is very high. On December 24, every Chilean attends the Midnight Mass – a church service commemorating the birth of Christ.

People usually gather for a festive dinner before the Mass and head to church together. The Mass begins around midnight and lasts for two to three hours, after which people head back home to continue the celebration.

The Midnight Mass in Chile isn’t any different from other countries and includes reading biblical passages, interpreting them, and singing Christmas hymns.

Local churches traditionally set up large nativity scenes where locals leave small offerings to baby Jesus, usually treats and toys.

Christmas Activities in Chile

Chile is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the weather is hot and humid at Christmas time. Naturally, the climate influenced Christmas activities in Chile – locals spend more time outdoors than people in northern countries.

Locals love to spend Christmas holidays at the beach, suntanning, playing volleyball, swimming, or surfing. You won’t see any palm trees adorned with baubles but may come across Santa sand sculptures and people in Santa hats and swim shorts.

However, a warm climate doesn’t mean that Chileans can’t experience a white Christmas. Chileans can escape the heat of Santiago and head south to Patagonia mountains with snow-capped peaks and mighty glaciers.

Winter sports enthusiasts can go to one of the numerous skiing resorts in Patagonia. Many families go on road trips to enjoy Chile’s majestic nature, rich with picturesque waterfalls, forests, nature parks, and shores.

On Christmas Eve, after dinner, young people usually gather on city streets to dance and watch festive performances. Thankfully, the weather allows partying outdoors as much as one wants to.

Christmas Food in Chile

Food is an integral element of Chilean Christmas celebrations. While many Chilean Christmas dishes were borrowed from Spain and the U.S., some recipes are unique to the region.

The feast begins with Cazuela de Ave – a traditional dish Chileans eat year-round. It’s made from meat, carrots, potatoes, corn, squash, onions, and pumpkin and can be either liquid like a soup or more solid like a stew.

The meat can be any – chicken, turkey, beef, pork, or lamb, but it’s always cooked until it becomes tender. The dish also includes spices – coriander, garlic, and paprika flakes.

For the main entrée, Chileans roast turkey or chicken. This isn’t typical for other Latin American countries where people usually roast pork, although turkey is native to the region. Chileans stuff turkey with apples rather than breadcrumbs and herbs.

A Chilean Christmas dinner is unimaginable without Cola de Mono, a traditional alcoholic drink translated as “monkey’s tail.” Cola de Mono is made from milk, sugar, coffee, condensed milk, and some spirit, usually Aguardiente brandy or rum.

The variations of Cola de Mono are endless, and every Chilean family seems to have a unique recipe. Many people add nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, and other spices to the drink.

Another Chilean Christmas drink is Chirimoya, made with custard apples, white wine, and sugar, always served chilled. Pisco Sour is a perfect holiday drink for those preferring something refreshing, made with brandy, lime juice, and sugar syrup.

For dessert, Chileans usually eat Pan de Pascua, translated as Easter bread. Despite the name, this spicy fruitcake is a must for the Christmas feast. Another popular dessert is Leche Asada, a flan with pudding-like consistency and a crunchy top.

Alfajores, egg-based sandwich cookies with caramelized milk filling, are an all-time favorite of local kids. Of course, fruits and nuts are always in abundance at the Christmas dinner.

While Christmas Eve dinner in Chile is typically formal, Christmas Day’s lunch has a more relaxed atmosphere. People gather for a barbecue in someone’s backyard – in Chile, barbecue is called Asado.

Chilean barbecues aren’t for vegetarians – they’re all about meat. People grill pork, beef, chicken, fish, sausages, and turkey served with vegetables on the side.

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