La Novena is a holiday celebrated by people from Spanish-speaking countries, but is most popular in Colombia. It starts on Dec. 16 and continues for nine days until Christmas. Novena has the root word “nueve,” which means nine in Spanish. During this holiday, friends and family all gather together.

Usually, the holiday involves doing lots of activities together, like saying prayers, singing and eating a variety of traditional Hispanic foods.

“On La Novena, I normally eat traditional foods like tequenos, empanadas and arroz con pollo,” senior Jimena Pena Leal said.

There are many popular dishes that families serve on La Novena, but one of the most popular dishes served is natilla — a creamy dessert pudding with a thick, smooth texture usually paired with buñuelos, which is a fried cheesy dough ball.

Although it originated in Spain, the Colombian version of the natilla is the most popular one as of today. Still, other countries also have their own traditional versions of the dish.

“During La Novena we typically eat natilla and fry buñuelos,” junior Victoria Gordon said. “We eat the original natilla or the coconut one.”

Another big part of the holiday is building “El Pesebre,” which is a nativity set meant to resemble the town of Belen. “El Pesebre” includes animals in a farm, Jesus, angels, houses, Mary, The Three Wise Men, Joseph and shepherd boys.

Some people only put Jesus “en El Pesebre” at the end of La Novena, which is Dec. 24, when Christmas in many Hispanic countries is celebrated.

Each night during La Novena, families sing Villancicos, which are hispanic prayers and songs. Many families will play musical instruments during the songs, including maracas, tambourine and la raspa.

“My favorite Villancicos is ‘Mi Burrito Sabanero,’” junior Gabriella Pino said. “My favorite part of La Novena is being together with my family, and being able to create that special memory together.”

The songs are usually sung after prayers. Prayers are another big part of each night since La Novena is a Catholic holiday and that gives people a chance to sit down and spend time with family and friends.

“I am from Venezuela. My favorite part of La Novena is when we all get to sing, when we all get to pass the microphone to each other. Everyone sings a part of the song, everyone gets a turn. My favorite Villancicos song is ‘El Burrito Sabanero,’” Pena Leal said.

Some popular songs are “La Nanita Nana” by Los Niños Cantores de Navidad Villancicos Tradicionales 1 and “Hacia Belen” and “Campana Sobre Campana” by Los Niños Cantores de Navidad Tradicionales 2.

“My favorite Villancicos song to play is ‘Campana Sobre Campana.’ My favorite part of La Novena is coming together as a family with everyone and sitting around and reading the little book they give you. Another one of my favorite things to do during La Novena is playing the songs after and overall having a good time,” Gordon said.

La Novena is a very special holiday filled with praying, singing and eating. There are many ways that people celebrate this special holiday — a holiday that allows families to come together and build new memories.