Christmas in Honduras: How the Country Celebrates the Season
Christmas in Honduras features a mix of longstanding traditions in Latin America with modern influences from the United States.
Traveling through Central America during the holidays is an experience I will never forget.
We had the opportunity to experience Christmas in this beautiful country and enjoy all of the Honduran holiday traditions.
From flashy fireworks, which most people associate with New Year’s Eve, to centuries-old processions through the street, Honduras Christmas traditions dazzle visitors during the holiday season.
For Hondurans, Christmas is one of the most important national holidays. Preparations for the celebration begin weeks, sometimes even months, in advance.
Even if you are only traveling through, you can feel the joyful celebration of the festive season already in early December!
Since many families in Honduras practice Catholicism, lots of Christmas traditions revolve around the religion, like Las Posadas and midnight mass.
This is similar to how Christmas is celebrated in the rest of Central America as well.
On our long-distance motorcycle adventure, we road our small 125cc motorcycles from North Dakota, USA to Yaviza, Panama. We were lucky enough to cross through Central America during the Christmas season and had an unforgettable experience!
Let’s dive into all you need to know about these very happy holidays and Christmas traditions in Honduras!
When is Christmas in Honduras
The indigenous people of Honduras started celebrating Christmas shortly after the Spanish converted them in the 16th century. As Spain colonized the country, they also brought enslaved Africans who brought new traditions.
Later, Americans would gain influence over the country through business ventures, which helped practices from the United States spread through Honduras.
The blending of these cultures created new ways to celebrate Christmas in Honduras!
Like other Latin American countries, Honduras does most of its Christmas activities on the eve of the holiday, December 24th.
People spend the day cooking, celebrating, going to mass, and finally enjoying a late Christmas dinner.
Christmas Traditions in Honduras
Honduras’s unique combination of cultures led to a similar Christmas but also unlike anything else.
These are some of the most typical traditions of Honduras’ Christmas holidays.
Las Posadas
The literal translation of this Spanish term is the inns, but it describes a days-long performative combination of prayer and celebration.
From the 16th of December until Christmas Eve, people travel dressed as Mary and Joesph from the Christian tradition, searching for a place to stay before the birth of Jesus.
The procession travels from house to house, looking for a place to stay. After the reenactment, people celebrate with music, piñatas, and seasonal food and drink.
One of the factors that made this practice so popular was the similarities with solstice festivals celebrated at the same time of year by indigenous groups.
Fireworks
Just like we experienced during Christmas in El Salvador, on the night of Christmas Eve, Hondurans set off fireworks in celebration!
The fireworks set off in celebration of the birth of Christ throughout Central America were one of my favorite holiday experiences.
I could not believe how many happy people got together to light these off.
The booms and pops go insane at midnight when most fireworks are set off. While some people head to a fireworks show, many families set off fireworks at home.
This practice is common throughout Central and South America.
However, celebrations with fireworks can be dangerous, and in some parts of Honduras, fireworks are illegal. Even so, many people still travel where they can buy fireworks so they can set them off at Christmas time.
Nacimiento: Nativity Scene Displays
Many Americans celebrating Christmas set up a nativity display either in their homes or outside. Honduras Christmas has the same tradition!
However, rather than using store-bought decorations, they constructed figurines made of clay.
The homemade nativity can be very elaborate, with extra buildings in the display. These are sometimes made to be reminiscent of Hondurans’ hometowns.
Families take great care decorating these representations of the Holy Family and the Son of God.
Pastorelas
Pastorelas are plays performed telling the story of the shepherds who followed the Star of Bethlehem.
Along the way, Satan tempts the travelers, trying to deter them from their destination. These stories represent the battle between good and evil.
Pastorelas are performed throughout Latin America and can be traced back to the 16th century.
Franciscan monks, noticing the indigenous population’s strong culture of arts and performance, encouraged these plays to spread the Catholic religion.
Warini
The Warini wears a mask and costume, walking the streets of Honduras during the Christmas season.
As the Warini dances, he is accompanied by drumming and singing. Just as he starts the celebration, he ends it with a final dance in early January.
The dancing tradition comes from the Garifuna people, a group of mixed indigenous and Africans who resisted slavery and preserved their culture.
Elaborate costumes are another part of the tradition. If you spot the Warini in Honduras, look for his and the other dancers’ outfits made with banana leaves.
Christmas Gift Giving in Honduras
Though Christmas has become more commercialized in some parts of the country, many families in Honduras give a gift of a new set of clothes.
These new clothes are common gifts and are referred to as estreno, and for less wealthy families, these might be the only gifts of the season.
There are other gift-giving traditions as well. Co-workers have a present exchange similar to Secret Santa called cochombros.
And yes, Honduran Christmas traditions include Santa Clause! Children do receive presents from Santa Claus, though they are usually opened on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day (December 25th).
Some children must wait for The Magi, or three wise men, to deliver their presents.
In many Latin American countries, these wise men have been the present givers, though Santa Clause has also been rising in popularity.
In some families, lucky kids get gifts on both days!
Christmas Food in Honduras
Eating lots of tasty food is one of the best parts of Christmas, wherever you celebrate! Here are Honduras’ best Christmas food traditions.
Main Christmas Dish
People with more resources may splurge and buy a turkey. However, chicken and pork are more traditional and usually less expensive options.
Pork is popular, especially pulpa, which stuffs the pork with potatoes and meat. Legs of pork or roasted young pig are used in these dishes. This is all typically enjoyed during Christmas dinner.
Nacatamales
Nearly every culture has a specialty, like a dumpling.
Nacatamales are Honduran tamales stuffed with savory ingredients.
They are made of corn dough and steamed in a plantain leaf. Many families spend days preparing tamales, which are often exchanged with neighbors to try more varieties!
Rompope
A traditional drink made from egg yolks and milk, rompope is very similar to eggnog.
In addition to vanilla, spices are added for flavor. This eggnog is a popular drink for Christmas in Honduras, where it is commonly mixed with rum.
Rosquillas en Miel
These doughnuts in honey are the perfect way to end the Christmas meal. Hondurans celebrate Christmas with these spicy treats, flavored with cinnamon, allspice, and cloves served in honey syrup.
In addition to being a traditional Christmas treat, they are also consumed during Easter.
Christmas Day, December 25th, is a time for families to gather together and eat the delicious leftovers from these amazing traditional foods.
Decorating for Christmas in Honduras
While decorations vary from household to household, many families in Honduras have Christmas trees.
Lights are strung outside along homes and palm trees instead of pine trees. Poinsettias grown nearby are also frequently used in decoration.
Other families might not have a Christmas tree, opting for a simpler wreath of evergreen boughs or other available foliage.
While trees and other decorations vary from household to household, nearly every family in Honduras sets up a Nacimiento (nativity scene).
Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the most frequently asked questions about celebrating Christmas in Honduras, and their answers!
Do people dress up as Santa Claus in Honduras?
Like in the United States, people dress up as Santa Claus in Honduras. They can be seen at all malls and individual households.
While other gift-giving traditions are a part of the holiday season, Santa Claus has recently grown in popularity in Latin America.
Is the phrase “Feliz Navidad” used in Honduras?
Yes, as a Spanish-speaking country, folks from Honduras greet each other with the phrase!
Feliz Navidad means Merry Christmas!
Do children send letters to Santa Claus?
Yes, children send letters to Santa Claus. However, rather than sending them to the North Pole, kids leave their requests for San Nicholás underneath their trees at home.
Not every household follows this tradition in Honduras. Some kids receive their presents from The Three Kings!
Final Thoughts
For American travelers, there are many familiar traditions in Honduras’ Christmas celebrations. They also exchange gifts, set up nativity displays, eat delicious food, and spend time with family.
However, the majority of the Christmas festivities take place on Christmas Eve.
One of the most significant differences between Christmas in Honduras and celebrations elsewhere is large gatherings of people for festivals and dancing.
Of course, there are definitely some amazing events and Christmas parties during the holiday season in the United States.
However, they seem less energetic than the rambunctious fireworks, singing, and dancing of Honduras.
Christmas in Honduras, or anywhere in Central America, is something you should experience at least once in your life.
We have also had the opportunity to experience the holidays in Panama, and it was a beautiful experience.
It is an exciting and magical time and an unforgettable adventure.