Venezuelan Ham Bread Debuts at Disney’s Epcot Festival, Following Arepa’s Popularity
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – Disney’s Epcot International Festival of the Holidays now features pan de jamón, or ham bread, a traditional Venezuelan Christmas staple, at its “Christmas Eve kitchen” seasonal food booth. The debut comes as Colombian arepas-popularized by the 2021 Disney film Encanto-continue to be a hit with park visitors.
The pan de jamón is described as “traditional Latin Christmas bread, with rolled ham, raisins and green olives,” highlighting its Venezuelan origins. While arepas have gained recognition as a Colombian dish through Disney’s Encanto, the filling within the pan de jamón-the savory combination of ham, raisins, and olives-is distinctly Venezuelan. This marks a notable moment for Venezuelan cuisine, offering a taste of the country’s holiday traditions to a global audience.
The International Festival of the Holidays at Epcot runs through december 30th and also features the Candlelight Processional, a daily retelling of the Nativity story narrated by celebrities including Luis Fonsi, Ralph Macchio, and Brendan Fraser, accompanied by a live choir and orchestra. The festival aims to celebrate diverse holiday traditions from around the world through food, music, and storytelling.
