Hello, hello beautiful people from Read.cash!
The first half of November has already gone and every day Christmas is closer. In Venezuela, this time was always happy and very celebrated, but due to the economic and political crisis, this season isn't anymore what it used to be. Many families have been separated since many of their members have left the country. A few days ago, my friend @gertu13 talked about this in her article Christmas is here. In my case, although my only sister and her family are still here, many of my cousins have left and of my closest friends, only one still lives in the country. So the celebrations and gatherings aren't longer like before. But we always try to keep some of our traditions. And in Venezuela, Christmas traditions always have a lot of food involved and also some drinks.
Before, by this time many people had started making their Christmas decorations. But these days, so far I've seen just a few balconies and gardens illuminated with lights. I usually do my decoration the first week of December, I use to have everything ready for my birthday. But now, I don't decorate as much as when my son was little. Some ornaments, lights on the balcony, and a nativity. In Venezuela, Santa is a commercial figure we have adopted but Baby Jesus is the important symbol of our Christmas. He is the one who brings the gifts on Christmas day. And speaking of that, in this photo is my oldest Christmas ornament, I have had it since I was a little child.
My sister and I, each had one of these. We used to put them under the Christmas tree along with our slippers to show the Baby Jesus where to leave our gifts. Mine doesn't have my name but my nickname Cocola that many already know from Why Coqui, eh.
Now, going to the title of this article. Yesterday, I ate one of our traditional foods around this time. It's always present in our Christmas celebrations, the Ham Bread. When the month of November arrives, almost all bakeries have it among their products.
Ham bread is a typical Venezuelan Christmas bread, filled with ham, raisins and green olives with red pepper.
We use to eat it with our most traditional Christmas meals, but it's so, popular that the truth is we can eat it at any time these days.
Its origin from what I have been able to research and according to gastronomy scholars in the country, dates back to 1905 in a bakery in Caracas and in its origin, it only had ham.
The following year, similar products appeared in other bakeries. And over time, they were adding the rest of ingredients to have the bread that is so popular today.
Over the years, ham bread has evolved. In some bakeries, they make them with turkey, others have made versions with puff pastry. I remember some years ago, in a small French pastry shop that I mentioned before in an article for their strawberry and blackberry tartlets, they even used to make a version with puff pastry and salmon, then they stopped making it because it was very expensive.
Yesterday, I ate my first slice of ham bread of the season, which will surely be the first of many. At home, we've never prepared ham bread, we always buy it at the bakery. But who knows, maybe this year I dare to make one myself. And you, my dear readers. Do you have any special bread you eat exclusively at Christmas?
Thank you to my awesome sponsors. You all rock! And today especially thanks to @Eylz2021 for renewing her sponsorship. And to @Diana_ for her sponsorship.
To you, my dear readers. Thank you so much!
All images and writing are my own unless otherwise stated.
© CoquiCoin
You can find me also at Noise.Cash ⊛ Hive ⊛ Torum ⊛ Twitter
Until next time! ;)
November 17, 2021
Me and my friends used to takes champagne party with DJ. No special plans for Christmas. It's really looking so fascinating that you’re having quality times with ham and bread.