Filipinos Celebrate Christmas Like No Other

Filipinos have the longest running Christmas celebration in the world, starting from September up until December, also known as the “Ber” months. In the Philippines, the religious and social aspects explain why they celebrate Christmas so early. Setting up parols, gatherings, feasts, carolling, “Ang Pao,” and “Noche Buena” are common traditions that are held during these months.

Filipinos in the Philippines celebrate Christmas early for a number of reasons, starting from the Spanish colonial era. Filipino farmers were unable to attend mass because of work. Because of this, friars started, “Simbang Gabi,” also known as Nine Mornings. This is when they held masses before sunrise. Filipinos believed if they completed nine continuous masses from Dec. 16 to Christmas Eve, their wishes would be fulfilled. From then on, they looked forward to Simbang Gabi which represented the blessings they would receive during the Christmas season.

This tradition would not only be about mass, but the festivals and celebrations that came with it. After the morning masses, people would bring traditional food and unite with their friends, family and neighbors.

Second, Filipinos are family-oriented. September allows time to prepare for the actual holiday. It is also a special time for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who come home to reunite with their families. Filipino values align with the Christmas season which is a season to give and come together.

One common tradition among Filipinos is celebrating Noche Buena. Noche Buena is Spanish for “good night.” This is celebrated by families gathering with a feast with meats like lechón and adobo and dishes like pancit. It lasts from Dec. 24 to Christmas morning. Filipinos normally celebrate Noche Buena after Simbang Gabi.

During family gatherings, children are given red or blue envelopes by their grandparents with money inside. This tradition is called “Ang Pao.” It is important for Tsinoys (Chinese-Pinoys), who conserve this practice and other Chinese celebrations. Chinese traders brought this practice while migrating to the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era.

Unique desserts that are brought during the season would be the Putong Bumbong and Bibingka. Putong Bumbong is a type of rice cake consisting of a purple glutinous rice inside of bamboo wrap. This dessert became popular during Christmas because churches would sell them outside during Simbang Gabi. Bibingka is another type of rice cake made of rice flour, coconut milk and sugar. It is known for its coconut flavor and banana-leaf scent. This treat is also sold outside of churches by street vendors.

Parols are one of the most significant parts of the Christmas season in the Philippines. A parol is a lantern-shaped star that represents the Star of Bethlehem, an occurrence from the Bible where a star appeared to guide the wise men to Jesus. The parol originated during the Spanish colonial period in Pampanga by an artisan named Francisco Estanislao. He used bamboo sticks and Japanese paper to create the star, which was foreign at that time. Parols back then had different shapes which were rectangular, oblong, or crosses. Parols long ago were used as a religious ritual for Lubena, a nine-day Christmas dawn mass. Parols are placed in the streets, inside homes, enterprises and schools in the Philippines.

Caroling is a significant tradition where carolers go to people's homes in exchange for gifts or tokens. These carollers include young children or church choirs, using recycled materials like bottlecaps to create tambourines or maracas. Caroling takes on many different forms in the Philippines. From group caroling to town caroling, competitions to neighborhood caroling, the main point is to spread the joy of the Christmas spirit!

Another important thing that Filipinos get excited about during the holidays is the pay! The 13th Month Pay is a mandated law where employees are paid a month's salary during the holiday season. People exempted from this law are government employers, household employers, and those who receive the same benefits as the 13th Month Pay.

Most people would expect snowfall and frosty weather during the Christmas season. As a tropical country, the Philippines continues to have one of the biggest Pasko, or Christmas, spirits in the world!

Photo by Monica Real | A parol, a traditional Filipino Christmas lantern, hangs bright in Monica's home.