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In the land of the fun-loving and warm-hearted people, it is true that Filipinos celebrates Christmas the longest and the merriest amongst all the nations of the world.
As soon as the 'Ber' months would start, you can already hear us Filipinos start talking about Christmas. 'Pasko na,' you can hear us saying, which means 'It's Christmas!' As early as September, Christmas songs are playing in the radio and everybody starts to plan how they will celebrate Christmas with their families. It is not a surprise when somebody would just greet you 'Maligayang Pasko po' or 'Merry Christmas' as early as this month. We start digging the last year's Christmas decors and hang them around the house. The Christmas Tree adorned with various ornaments which usually glitters and the tiny multi-colored dancing lights will never go out of the scene in every house, and of course, the famous 'Parol' (Christmas lantern), which represents the guiding star of Bethlehem, would be hanging by the house windows in the neighborhood that's usually in the shape of the star. The 'Belen' (Nativity Scene) would either be inside the houses by the hall, or in the garden.
This is the time of the year when family gathers. Those who are working and residing abroad makes it a point to take their yearly vacation during this time and spend it in the Philippines to be with their family and reunite with relatives and friends.
We will start planning family clan and class reunions left and right which is mostly set on the month of December. There will be the reunion of the families on the mother side of the family and a separate one on the father side. High school and college class reunions will be called. Christmas parties will be held from work, homeowner's association, organizations and from groups in which you are a member of. And there will be hundredths of gifts to exchange with.
We start making a list of all our 'inaanak's' (Godchildren), nephews and nieces to give gifts to. This is also true for our parents, close relatives like aunts and uncles, cousins and friends. We always find the budget as much as we could to give as much gifts as we can to show the appreciation that we have for the special people in our lives. We always find the effort and the energy to prepare all the gifts for everyone weeks and days before Christmas Day, but still ends up battling with the Christmas rush, like it never ends.
Flea markets or the so-called 'tiangge' would sprout like mushrooms everywhere. Because it is a season of gift-giving, this time of the year defines the height of the retail business. Malls are extending their store hours 'til midnight to accomodate all the shoppers and the slow traffic in the major roads of the city would really steal your precious sleeping hours.
Filipinos are so fond of having the 'Monito-Monita' or 'Kris Kringle' in school and at work a few days before Christmas. The thrill of picking a name and keeping it secret and giving themed gifts everyday to whom you picked makes the season really exciting. Day after day, a 'something' will be announced for a theme and we have to find a gift to our 'Monita' according to that. This is the opportunity to be creative in choosing a cheap gift that is according to the theme and the challenge is to keep yourself the secret giver until the final gift will be given which is usually done in the Christmas Party.
The 'Simbang Gabi' or the Pre-dawn/Midnight masses are held in each of the 9 days before Christmas either in early morning before the break of the dawn or in the late evening before midnight until the Christmas Eve on the 24th. The sound of the church bell will be heard in the neighborhood calling in those who will attend the mass. It has been customary for the Filipinos to attend this masses showing our true devotion to our faith as we prepare ourselves for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Also, most Filipino's ask for special favors believing that if we complete all the nine masses in a row, our wishes will be granted. We come in hundredths and thousands crowding the full church compound and the late comers would have to stay outside the gates of the church because there will be no more place for you to stand inside. The church is adorned with lights and big lanterns and even giant Christmas trees. Food vendors, who usually have pre-packed goodies and some hot stuff like the famous 'bibingka' (flour and egg cakes cooked on top and under), 'puto-bumbong' (purple colored rice pastry,steamed in bamboo tubes and seasoned with grated coconut and brown sugar) and hot cocoa drinks, are all lined-up outside the church getting ready for the flood of people who will buy their goodies right after the mass.
'Panunuluyan' or the re-enactment of Joseph and Mary's search for shelter where the latter could give birth to Jesus is being done on Christmas Eve, before the onset of the Misa de Gallo. After the mass, families will have a feast called 'Noche Buena' in their homes. Typically, there will be a Queso de Bola, a round of ham, pancit noodles and various sweets in the dining table to be shared by the whole family. This will be followed by gift-giving or the exchanging of gifts within the family.
Santa Claus plays a huge part of the celebration as the kids believe that this white-bearded fat guy with eye glasses will drop by the house, with his sleigh being pulled by reindeers, to fill the socks that they hung with toy gifts. The children are convinced to sleep early so they can wake up at midnight to see what Santa Claus had bought them while they were sleeping. This image of Santa Claus' formed in the children's mind is a motivation for them to do good the whole year through, as they are made to believe that this fat guy in the red suit always watch them whether they're naughty or nice.
In the morning of Christmas, the kids will visit their 'Ninong's & Ninang's' (Godfather & Godmother) to kiss their hands as customary. The Godparents would have their gifts ready for their 'inaanak' (Godchild) and there are times that cash gifts are given, as the others are too busy to prepare gifts for everyone. In the provinces, small children go from house-to-house knocking and saying, 'Tao po, namamasko nga po', which means that they are asking for some Christmas treat and they will be given a few pesos to share or some candies and sweets to eat. Close family friends and relatives also give gifts to each other especially to the children. In the afternoon of the day, you can see them summing up how much gift and cash they received.
Everyone have their doors open on Christmas Day signifying that all relatives and friends are welcome to drop by to exchange Christmas greetings and wishes with the host. There is an abundance of food served on the table all day like an eat-all-you can buffet. This is a day when we forget how being hungry feels as every stomach is full from the 'Noche Buena' til the close of the day.
Family gatherings are done usually after Christmas Day or before the New Year. Families of the clans gather to share one full day of happiness and entertainment. The kids are showered with 'aguinaldo's' from the elders in the form of small bills where they are made to line-up to receive their share one by one.
Christmas Parties in the offices usually starts with a Holy Mass, with a priest being invited to come over the venue to be followed by a program of presentations from the different departments of the company in which they practice their performances weeks before, a dinner, a raffle wherein a line-up of prizes are at stake and each employee will go home with a bagful or two of pre-packed food grocery items for the household.
All the days after the 25th of December is still considered Christmas until the Feast of the Three Kings or the Epiphany as it marks the end of the season. Only until then that the house decors will be gathered down again to be kept safely in the boxes for next year.
Forget about snow. Filipinos doesn't have white Christmas-ses, instead, we enjoy a snowful of happiness and colorful holidays all throughout the season.
For Filipinos, Christmas is the most celebrated, respected and awaited event of the year. It is spending the season together with family and friends as we shower it with carols, gifts, foods and lights to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. And it is with pride that I could say that the true spirit of Christmas is deeply instilled within the hearts of the Filipinos that goes beyond all the glitter and material things.
All of this makes up the Filipino Christmas tradition as each of the above completes the spirit of Christmas.
Maligayang Pasko po sa inyong lahat!
(Merry Christmas to you all!)
As soon as the 'Ber' months would start, you can already hear us Filipinos start talking about Christmas. 'Pasko na,' you can hear us saying, which means 'It's Christmas!' As early as September, Christmas songs are playing in the radio and everybody starts to plan how they will celebrate Christmas with their families. It is not a surprise when somebody would just greet you 'Maligayang Pasko po' or 'Merry Christmas' as early as this month. We start digging the last year's Christmas decors and hang them around the house. The Christmas Tree adorned with various ornaments which usually glitters and the tiny multi-colored dancing lights will never go out of the scene in every house, and of course, the famous 'Parol' (Christmas lantern), which represents the guiding star of Bethlehem, would be hanging by the house windows in the neighborhood that's usually in the shape of the star. The 'Belen' (Nativity Scene) would either be inside the houses by the hall, or in the garden.
This is the time of the year when family gathers. Those who are working and residing abroad makes it a point to take their yearly vacation during this time and spend it in the Philippines to be with their family and reunite with relatives and friends.
We will start planning family clan and class reunions left and right which is mostly set on the month of December. There will be the reunion of the families on the mother side of the family and a separate one on the father side. High school and college class reunions will be called. Christmas parties will be held from work, homeowner's association, organizations and from groups in which you are a member of. And there will be hundredths of gifts to exchange with.
We start making a list of all our 'inaanak's' (Godchildren), nephews and nieces to give gifts to. This is also true for our parents, close relatives like aunts and uncles, cousins and friends. We always find the budget as much as we could to give as much gifts as we can to show the appreciation that we have for the special people in our lives. We always find the effort and the energy to prepare all the gifts for everyone weeks and days before Christmas Day, but still ends up battling with the Christmas rush, like it never ends.
Flea markets or the so-called 'tiangge' would sprout like mushrooms everywhere. Because it is a season of gift-giving, this time of the year defines the height of the retail business. Malls are extending their store hours 'til midnight to accomodate all the shoppers and the slow traffic in the major roads of the city would really steal your precious sleeping hours.
Christmas carolers would go from house to house to serenade each household with joyful Christmas songs from the very first day of December. The carolers could be as young as five-to seven year-olds with their DIY tambourines made of 'tansan' (cola bottle caps) pressed flat with a hammer or stone and strung in a piece of wire tying two ends together forming a round shape. They does not care whether they know the song lyrics as long as the song can be recognized by the tunes they make. Some teens also form groups from the neighborhood and bring guitars and tambourines and sing beautiful carols around. Some professional groups sends notice beforehand to the household that they will serenade. When carolers come at our doorstep, we usually come out of the house and watch them as they sing a few carols. All the carolers would sing a Thank You song with a good wish for the whole family after we hand out some amount of money. This is their way of soliciting funds that they will use for their Christmas parties or to give to charitable institutions around town.
Filipinos are so fond of having the 'Monito-Monita' or 'Kris Kringle' in school and at work a few days before Christmas. The thrill of picking a name and keeping it secret and giving themed gifts everyday to whom you picked makes the season really exciting. Day after day, a 'something' will be announced for a theme and we have to find a gift to our 'Monita' according to that. This is the opportunity to be creative in choosing a cheap gift that is according to the theme and the challenge is to keep yourself the secret giver until the final gift will be given which is usually done in the Christmas Party.
The 'Simbang Gabi' or the Pre-dawn/Midnight masses are held in each of the 9 days before Christmas either in early morning before the break of the dawn or in the late evening before midnight until the Christmas Eve on the 24th. The sound of the church bell will be heard in the neighborhood calling in those who will attend the mass. It has been customary for the Filipinos to attend this masses showing our true devotion to our faith as we prepare ourselves for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Also, most Filipino's ask for special favors believing that if we complete all the nine masses in a row, our wishes will be granted. We come in hundredths and thousands crowding the full church compound and the late comers would have to stay outside the gates of the church because there will be no more place for you to stand inside. The church is adorned with lights and big lanterns and even giant Christmas trees. Food vendors, who usually have pre-packed goodies and some hot stuff like the famous 'bibingka' (flour and egg cakes cooked on top and under), 'puto-bumbong' (purple colored rice pastry,steamed in bamboo tubes and seasoned with grated coconut and brown sugar) and hot cocoa drinks, are all lined-up outside the church getting ready for the flood of people who will buy their goodies right after the mass.
'Panunuluyan' or the re-enactment of Joseph and Mary's search for shelter where the latter could give birth to Jesus is being done on Christmas Eve, before the onset of the Misa de Gallo. After the mass, families will have a feast called 'Noche Buena' in their homes. Typically, there will be a Queso de Bola, a round of ham, pancit noodles and various sweets in the dining table to be shared by the whole family. This will be followed by gift-giving or the exchanging of gifts within the family.
Santa Claus plays a huge part of the celebration as the kids believe that this white-bearded fat guy with eye glasses will drop by the house, with his sleigh being pulled by reindeers, to fill the socks that they hung with toy gifts. The children are convinced to sleep early so they can wake up at midnight to see what Santa Claus had bought them while they were sleeping. This image of Santa Claus' formed in the children's mind is a motivation for them to do good the whole year through, as they are made to believe that this fat guy in the red suit always watch them whether they're naughty or nice.
In the morning of Christmas, the kids will visit their 'Ninong's & Ninang's' (Godfather & Godmother) to kiss their hands as customary. The Godparents would have their gifts ready for their 'inaanak' (Godchild) and there are times that cash gifts are given, as the others are too busy to prepare gifts for everyone. In the provinces, small children go from house-to-house knocking and saying, 'Tao po, namamasko nga po', which means that they are asking for some Christmas treat and they will be given a few pesos to share or some candies and sweets to eat. Close family friends and relatives also give gifts to each other especially to the children. In the afternoon of the day, you can see them summing up how much gift and cash they received.
Everyone have their doors open on Christmas Day signifying that all relatives and friends are welcome to drop by to exchange Christmas greetings and wishes with the host. There is an abundance of food served on the table all day like an eat-all-you can buffet. This is a day when we forget how being hungry feels as every stomach is full from the 'Noche Buena' til the close of the day.
Family gatherings are done usually after Christmas Day or before the New Year. Families of the clans gather to share one full day of happiness and entertainment. The kids are showered with 'aguinaldo's' from the elders in the form of small bills where they are made to line-up to receive their share one by one.
Christmas Parties in the offices usually starts with a Holy Mass, with a priest being invited to come over the venue to be followed by a program of presentations from the different departments of the company in which they practice their performances weeks before, a dinner, a raffle wherein a line-up of prizes are at stake and each employee will go home with a bagful or two of pre-packed food grocery items for the household.
All the days after the 25th of December is still considered Christmas until the Feast of the Three Kings or the Epiphany as it marks the end of the season. Only until then that the house decors will be gathered down again to be kept safely in the boxes for next year.
Forget about snow. Filipinos doesn't have white Christmas-ses, instead, we enjoy a snowful of happiness and colorful holidays all throughout the season.
For Filipinos, Christmas is the most celebrated, respected and awaited event of the year. It is spending the season together with family and friends as we shower it with carols, gifts, foods and lights to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. And it is with pride that I could say that the true spirit of Christmas is deeply instilled within the hearts of the Filipinos that goes beyond all the glitter and material things.
All of this makes up the Filipino Christmas tradition as each of the above completes the spirit of Christmas.
Maligayang Pasko po sa inyong lahat!
(Merry Christmas to you all!)
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