Each year, as we enter the month of December, much of our excitement comes down to counting the days down to the long-awaited Noche Buena. It’s a pivotal moment as friends and families gather for a special dinner on Christmas Eve. Often the meals laid out during this momentous occasion are the main highlight as Christmas is the only time such meals are served. If you’re starting to prepare for your family’s Christmas dinner, here’s a handy checklist of what we usually serve for the Noche Buena feast.

Pinoy Spaghetti
Only in the Philippines will you ever find a pasta dish so sweet! Pinoy Spaghetti has long been a staple for every Filipino celebration. After all, it’s quite simple to make. All you need are spaghetti noodles, sugar, tomato sauce (or banana ketchup for an extra kick), any choice of ground meat, and some sliced hotdogs. Top it all off with a generous amount of grated cheese.

Christmas Ham
Christmas ham has become such a staple for Noche Buena feasts that most of our offices give it out to employees during the holiday season. It’s hard not to resist the rich, smoky flavors of ham complimented by a sweet pineapple glaze. Sandwiched between bread or paired with rice, whichever choice you pick it’ll certainly satisfy your tastebuds.

Queso de Bola
It’s hard not to ignore that delightful red ball of dairy as it fills up grocery aisles during the holiday season. Not many people might know it but we have the Dutch to thank for adding this cheesy delight to our Christmas dinners. According to the Cheese Atlas website, queso de bola is an offshoot of the famous Dutch cheese Edam. It was brought to our country during colonial times via the Dutch East India Company (not to be confused with Great Britain’s East India Company). Nowadays, much of our queso de bola is produced locally using cow’s milk.

Lechon
Lechon often comes as a rare treat due to how pricey it can be. As Christmas only comes once a year, lechon makes a fitting choice as the year-end delight for the family to splurge on. Who can resist that crispy golden brown skin roasted to perfection? Depending on the size of the pig and how many you are in the family, lechon can also last a good while and even reach the New Year!

Macaroni Salad
Despite being one of the most divisive meals during the Christmas season, as many debate on what exactly should be included in the festive mix, macaroni salad continues to be a mandatory meal for Noche Buena. Whether you like it with or without raisins, served sweet with cream or savory using mayonnaise, it’s impossible not to find it on the table.

Lumpia
If you don’t serve lumpia during big celebrations, most Filipinos abroad joke that it’s enough to get your Filipino card revoked. Most often it is served with ground pork as its filling, but the beauty of lumpia is how you can switch the filling out with just about anything—vegetables, fish, chilis, and so on.

Fruit Salad
For those looking for a healthy Christmas meal, the fruit salad acts as the perfect sweet treat to wrap up the Noche Buena feast. Without a doubt, it’s a lovely dessert that can satisfy everyone in the family, young and old, due to its simplicity. Just imagine the various fruits and their vibrant colors, swimming about in a sweet mix of cream and condensed milk, bringing this holiday dish to life.