Christmas in the Philippines

“Christmas is coming.” I remembered this phrases from the movie ‘The Expendables’ where Barney Ross (Silvester Stallone) wants Galgo (Antonio Banderas) to vacate the seat of Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) because he (Christmas) will join them on a mission to save their younger teammates held hostage by Conrad Stonebanks (Mel Gibson), not sure of the characters though, but these phrases are now in the air, anywhere, everywhere.

I grew up here in our place with a merry celebration of Christmas. When I was in grade school, I remember our teacher required us to make parol (Christmas lantern) as early as the month of October, and before December, all the classrooms are decorated with the lanterns made by the students. Popular decorations observed are the star of Bethlehem, Christmas tree, and the “nativity”. The streets are also decorated with beautiful lanterns and lights which are best watched during the night where lights are blinking, flickering and dancing.

Group of people, usually children gather before the night of December 16, where Christmas carols starts and they go house-to-house to sing beautiful songs only heard during Christmas time. With the accompaniment of musical instruments like guitar and tambourines made of bottle caps and some homemade drums, they sing their version of Christmas songs. The house owner then gives something in cash or in kind for the group after the performance of their caroling. Some musical groups make use of their instruments for their carols without the use of their voice; it’s their arrangement of the song that can make you sing while they play their song of choice.

  December 16 is also the start of the dawn mass on every catholic church called “simbang gabi” or “misa de Aguinaldo”, nine days of early morning mass celebration until December 24. People believed that whoever completed hearing the nine early morning masses, the wish of the devotee will be granted. Outside the church are vendors with their specialties like “puto-bumbong” and “bibingka” for church goers’ breakfast.

 

Offices, buildings and malls are specially decorated too, to attract more customers going to and fro buying special gifts for their loved ones, and or exchange gifts with friends and co-workers, and shopping for the food festival we call “noche Buena”, where the family is eating together after the holy midnight mass. Commonly served on tables are “Queso de bola” and Christmas ham, with other foods like noodles & pasta, fruit cakes and fruit salad, relleno, fried chicken or lechon. Sometimes a family would want to have a party, or light firecrackers to commemorate the birth of our savior.

On December 25, Filipinos visit their extended family to pay respect specially the senior relatives, which we called “pagmamano”. Godparents are also visited during this day, and are socially obligated to give special presents for their godchild.

These traditions are still in the heart of every Filipino I met, even those who are outside the country, away, working for their family. But mostly they make way of having a vacation here in the Philippines during this season, a great time to meet their loved ones and celebrate together with their families and friends, because in reality, Christmas in the Philippines is the longest and the happiest in any part of the world!