In Venezuela, we have a traditional Christmas dish that pays homage to our European, African, and Native American roots, known as hallaca, which is a pigmented corn flour cake wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in water, filled with a stew made from beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables, to which olives, capers, raisins, and other ingredients depending on the region of the country.

This is accompanied by pan de jamón, which is a baked bread stuffed with smoked ham, bacon, olives, and raisins, as well as a salad made with chicken or hen and smoked pork leg.

The preparation of hallacas is a ritual in which families assign tasks and responsibilities to each member in the complex process of making this dish, which is usually eaten at Christmas.