Editing Christmas Eve (section)

=== Cuba ===
In Cuba, roasted pig ({{lang|es|[[lechon|lechón]]}}) is often the center of Christmas Eve ({{lang|es|Nochebuena}}).<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vanessa-garcia/good-night-noche-buena_b_4467239.html For some Latino families, Christmas comes a day early] ''Los Angeles Times''. Hector Becerra. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2014</ref> It is believed that the tradition dates back to the 15th century when Caribbean colonists hunted down pigs and roasted them with a powerful flame.<ref>[http://www.latinpost.com/articles/4672/20131211/nochebuena-celebrations-december-24th-latino-american-households.htm Nochebuena: Celebrations Start on Dec 24 in Latin-American Households] Latin Post. Nicole Akoukou. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2014</ref>

In Cuban and Cuban-American tradition, the pig is sometimes cooked in a {{lang|es|Caja China}}, a large box where an entire pig is placed below hot coals.<ref>Cordle, Ina Paiva, [http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/12/23/3835061/on-nochebuena-many-in-south-florida.html On Nochebuena, many in South Florida will be roasting a pig in a "caja china"] ''[[The Miami Herald]]'', 23 December 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013</ref> The dinner features many side dishes and desserts, and often games of [[dominoes]] are played. The tradition is continued by Cuban families in Florida and the United States.<ref>[http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/12/24/families-gather-for-traditional-noche-buena-feast/ Families Gather For Traditional "Noche Buena"] CBS Miami. 24 December 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2014</ref> The dinner on the Christmas Eve is the center of the celebration.

Christmas Eve dinner is generally not served at a set time, though it is typically eaten as a family. It is expected that the entire family will be at the table to start tasting the {{lang|es|frijoles negros dormidos}} (sleeping black beans) and the {{lang|es|arroz blanco desgranado y reluciente}} (shredded white rice), the {{lang|es|yuca con mojo}} (a Cuban side dish made by marinating [[cassava]] in garlic, sour orange, and olive oil), the roasted pork or the stuffed or unfilled {{lang|es|guanajo}}, along with homemade desserts, such as Christmas fritters, and a wide range of sweets in syrup and Spanish nougat.

The visit to the archipelago of [[Pope]] [[John Paul II]], in 1998, prompted the Cuban government, in a gesture of goodwill, to declare 25 December again as a holiday, which it had not been for several decades.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}