Filipinos are known to be friendly, family-oriented, hospitable people. And one way to see this virtue much expressed is during the Christmas season.

The most waited day of the year. It is the time where you can see all the children in the streets wearing their newly bought clothes. Christmas truly is for children. They look forward to it every year, a time for gifts, merry making, meeting cousins, visiting family members and friends.

I can still remember when I was about 7 years old, my cousins and I would always shop together and try to buy similar clothes to wear on Christmas day. Ahhh… those were the days.

Christmas time brings the family together, as siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, all join forces to prepare for the day’s feast. Menudo, lechon, pancit, buko salad, leche flan, fried chicken, chopsuey… no matter what food is served; it’s the time spent together, the laughter and the never ending stories told during these times that made every Filipino family stick together.

We might not have snow, or reindeers, but celebrating Christmas in the Philippines is very heart warming because of its rich traditions, and culture, that binds every family closer together, that made the holidays an event worth going home to. 

Traditions

Christmas in the Philippines starts as early as the month of “ber” arrives. By the time September comes in, you will be able to hear a Christmas song or two in the radio and the countdown begins. By October, Christmas decors will be available in the malls to buy and start planning for the Christmas theme for the year. Bazaars, night markets and expos featuring assorted gifts and novelty items sprung up on November. And Christmas carolers start to fill the streets and visit the nearby houses by the first day of December.

These practices have been going on thru generations. It is a combination of tradition, culture and religion.

Christmas in the Philippines is one of a kind. You will be able to see children Christmas carolers using spoons as their main percussion instrument, used milk can with plastic film stretched on top beaten with a barbecue stick as a drum, and their small hands clapping to accompany their soft voices as they sing from one house to the other. This is a tradition that every kid on the block look forward to, an experience that one should go thru during childhood. Children’s favorite Christmas carols are “Sa may bahay”, “Ang pasko ay sumapit”, and “pasko na naman”. And after the children received the money, they will be singing “Thank you, Thank you, ang babait ninyo, thank you!”

Grown ups also do caroling, usually these are group of young people from a school, church or organizations, raising funds for the holidays, simply accompanied by guitars, maracas and tambourines.

Ah… hearing these as I walk by towards my house from work reminds me that truly, Christmas is in the air.

Christmas Decors

Parols (Christmas lanterns), Christmas Trees and bright twinkling lights filled every home. No matter how simple or how elegant the design, every Filipino wants to make sure that the spirit of Christmas will be felt in their homes.

Inside of jeepneys, buses, tricycles, side cars and private vehicles, you will be able to see small Christmas lanterns displayed pinned on the car ceiling or on the glass. Some go over the board by placing small lighted lanterns inside their vehicles to bring more attention and heighten the Christmas spirit while traveling over the traffic streets of the city, as everyone do about their Christmas shopping.

Nowadays, every barangay and city has its own theme when it comes to decorating their streets. It is a spectacular display of one’s culture and creativity that certainly serves as an attraction to visitors and pride to every resident in the area. Some used indigenous materials as their Christmas decors like shells, kawayan, recycled materials, and abaca to name a few. Some however go to a more modern design like robotics, dancing Christmas lights, and enormous Christmas trees made of synthetic leaves with ribbons, company logos and numerous bulbs to light the tree.

Food and Noche Buena

Christmas in the Philippines is always combined with good music, good company and good food.

By the start of the “simbang gabi”, you will be able to see vendors around the churches selling the best “puto bung bong” and “bibingka”. It is a traditional snack to have after attending church early in the morning. It is a favorite among locals, taken either with hot coffee or tea to beat the morning chill.

Noche Buena is a time where family and friends gather together during Christmas eve to eat. I have always looked forward to my grandmother’s hot cocoa served together with a few slices of ham, cheese and bread as we celebrate Christmas Eve.