Philippines has the longest Christmas celebration.
Filipinos always love a festive gathering and Christmas is the largest, most extensive party of them all. The celebrations starts three months earlier when the “Ber-Months” (SeptemBER, OctoBER, NovemBER and… DecemBER!) hits the calendar. This effectively gives the Philippines the longest Christmas season in the world.
As early as September, you can already hear Filipinos say “Maligayang Pasko” or Merry Christmas to each other. It keeps a wonderful cheer in the heart for all the Filipinos on Christmas season.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Cities around the country lit up with Christmas lights and decorations. Its an ongoing tradition that every weekend during the season for families to visit malls to see gigantic Christmas trees and festive decorations. Filipinos also love a good fireworks display and light shows counting the day to December.
PAROL
The Parol is a traditional Filipino star lantern made up of wood and paper or metal and shells called “capiz”. The lanterns light up the streets in different colors. Nowadays people are making Parol bigger and have more elaborate colors and patterns, and are a staple to Philippines holidays.
SIMBANG GABI
Simbang Gabi is the Night Mass attended by Filipino Catholics in anticipation of Christmas. Its a series of Masses in nine days, held daily from the 16th of December to the 24th. The last day of Simbang Gabi, which is Christmas eve is called Misa de Gallo. It is an important tradition in Filipino culture.
EXCHANGE GIFTS
Exchange Gifts is also a big part of Filipino culture. Weather in school, at work or with family. It brings not only the happiness of receiving gifts, but also because of the happiness of giving them. It also adds fun in Christmas parties in the office and schools.
NOCHE BUENA
The much awaited Noche Buena, in the Philippines noche buena is filled with cultural and religious importance. Colonial rule of Spain has greatly imposed Catholicism in the country, making a deep enduring religious heritage.
For Filipinos noche buena is a midnight feast on Christmas eve, a meal eaten after hearing Misa de Gallo to welcome Christmas Day.
The traditional feast includes Letchon a whole roasted pig. And other foods cooked especially by family members. But don’t forget the delicious desserts, some of them you can buy off the streets like Sapin-sapin is a layered glutinous, or sticky, cake coloured white, yellow and purple. Bibingka is a sweet glutinous rice cake you cook in a clay pot and cover in shredded coconut and sugar. And Biko is a huge and sticky brown-sugar rice cake.
Have a Merry Christmas from NorthTriamTech!