From December 16 to December 24, this celebration takes place in Catholic churches in Venezuela, a tradition that comes from the rich mestizo culture, which in addition to preparing Baby Jesus’ nativity within the families, it favours the gathering of neighbours and relatives, who share all or several of the nine masses, ending on 24th with the so-called rooster’s mass.
Traditionally, these masses are held around 5 a.m., before sunrise, a custom that has varied in many urban areas but that is still kept in many places country wide. The community awakens to rang out of church bells and still in the dark, people approach the church for the liturgical celebration, accompanied by Christmas carols.
But the December cold, the “Pacheco”, as the old local people from Caracas named it, calls on the hot chocolate, which used to be sold outside the church, along with pastries, sweet breads, cakes, cream punches, and even “Calentaíto”, in the Andean zones. Christmas masses and chocolate are an essential duo, which still persists in many areas of the country.
