People prepare the menu for Christmas Eve dinner and the family reunion.

On Christmas Eve, the Christmas spirit fills homes in Santa Cruz, where the celebration revolves around family reunions. People finalize preparations for the celebration and Christmas dinner. With their lists in hand, residents head to the markets in search of ingredients for the menu. As is tradition in Santa Cruz, many families opt for roast pork, although others choose chicken as a more economical alternative. The Fernández family got together on Sunday to decide what to serve for Christmas dinner and, by consensus, decided to prepare roast pork. Luis was in charge of going to the market to buy the ingredients, which cost them Bs 800, because they plan to have 14 people over. Everyone contributed to buy the ingredients in advance and leave the meat to marinate so that it would taste better. Luis bought eight kilos of pork ribs for Bs 384, as the price per kilo is Bs 48. Other cuts, such as leg, cost Bs 35 and tenderloin, Bs 45. He also bought two kilos of chorizo criollo for Bs 106. He added three pounds of yuca for Bs 14 to his list and spent another Bs 40 on salad. For the toast, he bought two ciders and soft drinks, spending Bs 150, as well as other products such as rice and corn, which are essential for satisfying everyone's tastes. Víctor Roca traveled from Pando to the capital of Santa Cruz to spend Christmas with his children. On Monday, they searched for turkey on social media and bought one weighing almost five kilos. It is the first time they have considered this menu, so they started preparing it in advance so that nothing would be missing from the Christmas Eve table on Wednesday. They have budgeted at least Bs 700 for everything they need for the meal. “The most important thing is to be together, but it's also very nice to share something special,” she says. One of the trends that is becoming popular at family gatherings is Christmas T-shirts with different themes. Many have chosen to buy this garment so that everyone is dressed harmoniously. They can be found for between Bs 50 and Bs 80 each, depending on the size, design, and quality. Virginia, 66, went to the Abasto market. There are six people in her household, and her budget ranges from Bs 500 to Bs 700, mainly due to the cost of pork and the ingredients needed for preparation. She acknowledges that this year it will be necessary to adjust the menu. “We may have to reduce the portions or change some things, but the important thing is to share with the family and be together that night,” she said. Amalia, 65, has a similar budget. She recalls that in previous years the expense was lower, although she assures that the family gathering remains a priority. “Everything is more expensive, but we still have to spend Christmas Eve with our families and make the effort to share a nice dinner,” he said. From the Abasto and Mutualista markets, merchants reported that products such as pork and turkey registered an increase of between Bs 3 and Bs 5 bolivianos, something that usually happens every year on the eve of the end-of-year holidays.