On Christmas Eve, also called Nochebuena, the people get together with their family and friends to feast on Arroz con gandules and Lechon (roast rice and pork with pork peas) and consume coquito (like eggnog but with coconut as the base) while singing trullas (Christmas songs typically performed with maracas, drums as well as guiros).
Nochebuena (literally “the Good Night”) is the Spanish term that refers to the night of Christmas Eve, which is celebrated on December 24th each year. It is typically an essential celebration of Christmas in Latin American cultures, and certain regions have a fast at midnight before dinner.
If you’re a tourist to the Island, most tourist services will be in operation on the 24thof December, and later in the evening, numerous restaurants and hotels offer special Christmas dinners. In most of Spain, Latin America, the Pacific Islands, and the Philippines, the celebration consists of a traditional dinner for the family.