Christmas in the Philippines is More Fun, a One of A Kind Christian Tradition

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year All!

Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon sa Lahat!

How do Filipinos celebrate Christmas? You'll be amazed. Here is my blog post for that.

Christmas celebration is one of the most awaited event by millions of Christians around the world and of course, of the Filipinos here in the Philippines. Many says that Philippines has the longest Christmas celebration among any other nations on earth. How true?

September Countdown

As early as September, people are already decorating their houses with "parol" or lanterns, flashing lights, hanging bells, "belen" or a manger where Jesus, Mary, Joseph and several animals are gathered, and more stuffs that resemble the spirit of Christmas. September is also the month when TV and radio stations are starting to count down the number of days before Christmas.

By October and November, people are already busy listing down their Christmas wishes including new toys to buy for their "inaanak" (godson/goddaughter), clothes to wear during parties, menus to put on the table, and more stuffs that will make their Christmas happy and fun. You can see how busy people are from almost all part of the country - busy with shopping!

Caroling and Night Mass

As the December cold wind starts to blow, Christmas spirit is in the air. People play Christmas songs. Caroling, which is another Filipino tradition of choral singing in the streets, is done everywhere. From kids, to teens to even adults, all has a version of "Jingle Bells" and "Feliz Navidad".

The "Simbang Gabi" (Night Mass) starts at December 15. The original tradition of Simbang Gabi happens as early as four o'clock in the morning when it's still too cold to wake up and walk from home to church. Today, night mass is already being celebrated from six o'clock in the evening to around twelve midnight. However, what's great about sacrificing just to attend the night mass is that you can eat fresh and hot local delicacies like "puto bongbong", "bibingka" and the hot "salabat" or ginger tea - it will keep you awake while going back home. There is an old belief about Simbang Gabi which still holds true today. They say that completing the nine night masses will make your Christmas wish be granted. How interesting that is!

On Christmas Day

At the exact day of Christmas, December 25, millions of Filipinos go to the church to hear mass. And the fun doesn't yet end there. The "inaanak" will go to their "ninong" and "ninang" (godmother/godfather) to ask for their "mano" or gesture of bless, and of course, to ask for a Christmas present or "pamasko". Some people call it "aginaldo" which is either a blessing in the form of cash or in kind.

The whole day of Christmas is about family bonding. That means more singing, more picture taking, more eating, and more great happenings in every homes. Shopping malls like SM (Here's an info about SM: Why Filipinos Love SM?) are open and almost everybody is here. Kids are playing the game hubs while the oldies are buying their wish lists.

Believe it or not, Christmas is very much alive even on penitentiaries and hospitals. Oh, by the way, Christmas celebration in the Philippines extends up to New Year's Day. What? That's really long!

It's More than a Celebration - It's a Tradition

Christmas in the Philippines is absolutely a one of a kind tradition in the face of this planet. What I've just mentioned is only half of story of the entire celebration. The Santa Claus, the concert of celebrities, the games in every town and city, the Christmas parties of every company, the give-aways from suppliers, the Christmas gimmicks, the film festival and a lot of more Christmas events is going to be another long story to be told. And don't forget about the "lechon" or grilled whole pig, keso de bola, fruit salad, kaldereta, pancit and ham. That's a whole fun of eating!

Christmas is Giving Back

And I think it is also good to tell that Christmas is also the time when street kids, tribes from the mountains, and poor and needy people are everywhere asking for "pamasko". Christmas is for everybody and it's both fun and sometimes will make your cry out of happiness and sympathy. As what the church leaders are saying, "Christmas is about loving, sharing and giving". And I think that's true.

If you're not a resident of the Philippines and you want to know what really Christmas celebration is all about in the country, better pay a visit here. When someone greets you Merry Christmas int the airport, it has a hidden meaning. What is it? It's for you to find out.

Meaning of Christmas

Well, Christmas is from the words Christ and Mass (Try to also read my post about this topic: Christmas is Jesus Christ Mass – Does Holding a Party Makes Sense?). It's about Jesus Christ, the son of God. I don't fully understand why Christmas is a world tradition despite of the different religions some of which are not a believer of Christ. Yes, some non-Christians will greet you "Merry Christmas" from the bottom of their hearts. Like the Chinese New Year, even Filipinos who are not Chinese or Buddhist join the celebration in China Town (Check out this post: A Visit to China Town in the City of Manila). Christmas may mean Christians celebrating Jesus Christ's coming to the earth but we should always remember that it is a celebration of brotherhood and sisterhood among us.

May the spirit of Christmas be with us all. May the coming new year 2018 becomes another great year for all of us.

About this Blog

ProjectPilipinas.com is blog campaign for positive changes to happen in the Philippines and benefit the Filipinos. There are obviously wrong doings going on in this country. They cannot be solved in one day, one month, one year, or even one term of a President. But if anyone will start and do their part, the good change can happen anytime, for at least to the only place where the bad thing is happening.

This post about Christmas in the Philippines is the author's (Noriel Panganiban, founder of Knowriel.com) way of encouraging everyone, Filipinos or not, to deeply understand the true reason why we celebrate Christmas. That is, we should retain the good values, but leave behind the bad ways or beliefs. For more information about this campaign, please explore more (and share) this blog site. You can be a part of the change by sharing this post.

Comments

“I Love Baguio City” - My Travel Story in the Summer Capital of the Philippines

The Strawberry Farm, Burnham Park, Mines View Park, the Mansion, Wright Park, Lourdes Grotto, and Session Road; these are among of the popular landmarks in the more commonly known “Summer Capital of the Philippines” – Baguio City. Why so? Well, the temperature here seldom exceeds 26 degree centigrade. During the cold season of December to February, the temperature falls down to even below 10 degree centigrade. The record low temperature was 6.3 degree and that was on January 18, 1961. How to Travel to Baguio City? Going to this cold city in the mountainous province of Benguet, Philippines is a six to seven hours travel by passenger utility bus from Manila. Starting from EDSA, traversing the NLEX, entering SCTEX, exiting the province of Tarlac and going through the neighbouring provinces of Pangasinan and La Union, and then exploring the zigzag road of either the Marcos Highway, the Kennon Road or the Naguilian Road, the coldest place in the Philippines will be reached. Baguio is a

"Business as Usual" as the Filipinos Define It (Vulcanizing Shop, Sari-Sari Store, Bakery) – Part 1

I asked the shop owner about these old unused tires on what are they doing with it. The Vulcanizing shop owners says, “Oh, someone will pick up those tires and pay us 5 or 10 pesos each. Sometimes they just take it for free”. Vulcanizing Shop - A Classic Example of Filipino Business You’ve most probably seen and been into a local, typical vulcanizing shop like this one in the photo. The business concept is very simple. Here’s a customer with his flat or deflated tire and the vulcanizing boy will repair it using a rubber compound patch, a heating tool, and an air pump. If it’s a regular car or van tire, repairing one may only take 10 minutes the cost of which is around 30 to 60 pesos. If it’s a tire from a truck or bus, it could be around 30 minutes and the repair would cost the vehicle owner around 100 to 150 pesos. Here’s the thing. A shop like this one could potentially earn a revenue of 1000 up to 2000 per day just by repairing a flat tire. Why? Well, with thousands of

Jesus Christ’s Hands (Kamay ni Hesus) – an Image of Ultimate Devotion

We visited Kamay ni Hesus in 2011. That big statue of Jesus Christ, similar to that one seen in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, is a magnificent wonder. Probably, this hidden place in the province of Quezon is not yet known to the world. Then this post is a good starting point to share it. More than 85% of the Filipinos are Catholics. Many are truly devoted. Some are not. This holy place is a place of worship for many Catholics. At about 50 feet tall, this statue of Jesus Christ is a magnificent structure made even more noticeable when placed on the mountain top. About two thousand to three thousand visitors come into this place everyday to pray, to stroll and to witness the beauty and holiness of this man-made mountain park. On the Photo: A view from the Foot of the Mountain at Lucban, Quezon, Philippines Kamay ni Hesus “Kamay ni Hesus” in Lucban, Quezon is proving it all. A structure, a park , a holy place – many believes that it will last for a lifetime. On a larger scale, Chris

The Solutions to the Problems in the Philippines – an Appeal for Help from People Like You

If I would become the political adviser of the Philippine president, I would propose to him solutions on how to resolve the problems and issues happening in this country. But if I would not become one, I will continue to become an adviser if not to the president then to the people. Manila, Philippines There are hundreds of problems the government of the Philippines is facing today and even in the past. Some of them can be considered solved while some are not. Some problems are recurring while others are permanent and therefore the solutions are only temporary. However, it is worth commending on how the current government is responding to the needs of time of the Filipino people. Ads by ProjectPilipinas Click Image to Learn More The rise of the Philippine Stock Exchange index is a valid proof that several economic measures are taking effect. The legal measures are showing results in the sense that the fight against corruption is not a “ningas-kugon” platform. The call

The Divisoria Malls - Defining Shopping in the Philippines

They call it the 168 Mall. It is one of the busiest places in the Philippines during shopping days like Christmas season when longing for enjoyment and relaxation is on the air once again. From Cavite, my home place, going to Divisoria, it will take you about an hour travel under normal traffic flow. What is in this place? Well, Divisoria is the Bargain Shopping Capital of the Philippines . This is where wholesale and retail prices make shoppers say “WOW!” on delight. Visiting this place will definitely give you a realization about shopping on a different dimension. Find out why on the next paragraphs. On the Photo: The Popular 168 Mall in Divisoria, Manila, Philippines Divisoria is located in Binondo, Manila. It is accessible via Quiapo(where the famous Black Nazarene of Quiapo Church is) thru Recto Avenue and via Lawton near Manila City Hall. Divisoria has been there since the early 90’s. As it is near the North Harbour, Manila’s main seaport, the freshest and cheapest produc

“Fixer” in Philippine Government Agencies Like the Social Security System (SSS) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) – What We Filipinos Can Do About it?

Maybe in this post, I can clearly explain how “fixing” works in many government offices in the country. The idea is first, to warn you that such illegal fixing happens, and second, to give you tips on how you should avoid them. Plain and simple, we will not in anyway damage or speak against anyone or any particular office of the government in this post. It just happened that this is about my experience with LTO and SSS Tagaytay. I want to emphasize that still many government employees in the Philippines are doing their jobs right - including those who are working in the said branches. If you have experienced transacting with any government offices here in the Philippines, whether you're a Filipino or not, you should already be familiar with these signages. NO TO FIXER Banner in an LTO Office NO NOON BREAK Banner in LTO Tagaytay Here’s a bit of knowledge for you to digest first. What is “fixing” or who is a “fixer” by the way? In the Philippines, these good w

Beautiful Life in the Philippines in These Times of Pandemic

Life is beautiful if you will find ways to make it beautiful... This is what I learned from life experiences here in the planet. As the line from the poem Invictus states: I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. We are responsible for our happiness, at least in a world where everyone has freedom. Now, as to what happiness would mean to you, it something you must know. But defining happiness should not be complicated. Perhaps, this blog post can explain... Cows Freely Eating Grasses in a Green Field A Lady Witnessing the Rising of the Sun Morning Sun as it Climbs Up to Start the Day We all experienced the horrible impact of pandemic over the past two years, and yet we still feel the difficulties and challenges up to this very moment coping up with the so-called "new normal". Maybe its already too much to say what this COVID-19 virus bring us...that's enough! An inspiration may cure our broken hearts and souls. This is the best way to calm us down, make us

Interesting Facts from the Historic Province of the Ilocanos - Ilocos Norte, the Philippines

In 2016, my friends traveled to the northern part of our country – in Ilocos region. The views there are truly amazing, so I decided to create this post about Ilocos Norte. No wonder, some of the places I am going to share here do exists in the Philippines for centuries. Yes, that old! Not only that, I researched more facts about these places that may help you appreciate more the beauty or importance of them. Ready to be fascinated? Here we go. Sand Dunes, Paoay, Ilocos Norte The Sand Dunes in Paoay Ilocos Norte is in some ways comparable to the desert safaris found in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Marrakech. Land cruisers or 4x4 rough terrain vehicles will tour you around the dunes. The place is also known as the Ilocos Norte Sand Dunes (INSD) and is considered a National Geological Monument. The locals call it La Paz Sand Dunes or Bantay Bimmaboy. Notable feature of this tourist destination is that it is an 85 square kilometers dry zone facing the West Philippine Sea. Today, adventu

Search This Blog