First of all, we must determine what a ham is. A ham is a piece of meat that is cut from the thigh of some animals, and is taken specifically from the hind leg of the animal. The most preferred animal for the production of ham is the pig.

If you are wondering how ham got to the Philippines, the reason is that the Philippines was under the rule of other countries many years ago. The Philippines also became part of the international trade routes for spices and other products. Spain occupied the Philippines for the longest time and most of the Spanish traditions were imbued with the rich culture of the Philippines. One of the important traditions that Spain brought to the Philippines is the celebration of Christmas and the traditional Christmas Eve dinner. If there is no ham on the table, then Christmas dinner is not complete. Christmas Ham or Jamon de Bola is the most popular ham in the Philippines and is always served during Christmas Eve or “noche Buena” dinner. It is a dry cured ham that is first cooked in a sweet broth after salt is rinsed from the surface of the meat. After that, it is marked on the surface and then the glaze is applied and finally it is roasted in the oven.

The Hamon de Bola is a round shaped ham as its name suggests. It is covered with a red colored packet because, according to the Chinese, it will bring good luck to families when served during Christmas. Ham is not only available during Christmas, but is also available year-round canned or wrapped in plastic. This type of ham is usually served for breakfast and paired with rice or slices of bread. When the Christmas season approaches, the hams are more visible in the exhibitors. It is a tradition that has been influenced by the Spanish and is still practiced to this day. Ham is the most important and expected part of the Good Night or Christmas Eve dinner. For most people, it would not be a Christmas dinner if there were no ham on the table. After dinner, the family gathers around the Christmas tree to exchange gifts.

Some people even buy ham a few months in advance so they don’t get caught up in the rush of the holidays. During the holidays, eating ham has become part of their culture and some even equate ham with Christmas.