A symbol of Christmas in many parts of the world is the Poincetta plant - the deep red, star shaped blooms are feature on Christmas cards and people give each other potted poincettas to decorate their homes. The beautiful red flowers which bloom in winter, just in time for Christmas are native to this region. We have a number of the bushes in our garden and they look magnificent. The flowers on the left are on a bush about 10 feet tall with over 30 of these platter sized red stars. Here Poincettas are called Noche Buena or Holy Night. On Christmas Eve there is much celebration with torches, music and fireworks (huge boom-boom "cohetes" as loud as dynamite).
After midnight mass families return home for a traditional supper.