Christmas in the Philippines

The Christmas festival is the longest festival in the Philippines. It is a religious festival that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. According to Christian teachings and belief, Jesus was the Son of God made man who save humankind from sin.

Traditionally, the Christmas festival in the Philippines starts on December 16 and culminates on December 25, which is the date of birth of Jesus; however, the festival continues until the first Sunday of January. It is a time of gift-giving and enjoying parties. It is a time when family members, relatives and friends gather together to reaffirm their love for one another and their commitment to each other. It is a time of worship and celebration as people recalls the birth of Jesus.

Christmas is truly a happy occasion in the Philippines. Some houses are adorned with Christmas lanterns. Many homes are decorated with Christmas tree, colorful lights, a tableau showing Jesus in a manger (called Belen), images of stars and angels and/or other Christmas items. People buy and give gifts, and people receive many gifts in return. They go to shopping malls, eat in restaurants, watch shows or presentations of all sorts, travel to places or simply relax in their homes.

One of the unique features of the Christmas festival is the “Simbang Gabi” or “midnight mass.” For nine days before Christmas day, a mass is celebrated in Catholic churches at dawn. Many years ago, the mass was celebrated at 12 midnight. This Catholic tradition is practiced only in the Philippines. Other Christian churches celebrate Christmas in much the same way as other Filipinos celebrate it. Another unique event during the festival that is quite dear to Filipinos is the “Noche Buena.” At 12 midnight of December 24, the family shares and enjoys a sumptuous meal which the members have prepared early on in the day. Often, the preparation takes more than one day. The gathering around the family table can last until dawn, which is December 25, the birthday of Jesus. The celebration continues. Family members, relatives, friends and colleagues meet for a special gathering. A good number attend worship services. Still others do things that are quite personal.

Today, some Filipinos think that the Christmas season begins, unofficially, during the month of September and ends during the last week of December. Filipinos call them as the “ber” months since the names of these months end in “ber.” This new period is quite long and does not appear to contribute to the celebration of Christmas. September, October and November are months of the rainy season and during this period, typhoons do occur. As every Filipino knows, a typhoon is not something to look forward to. In addition, many other events occur during these months: the semestral break, the college enrollment and other public holidays. Perhaps, this long period may make for “good economic sense” but that is still to be proven by concrete data.

The Christmas festival is one great event in the Philippines. It is a time to relax. It is a time to give and receive. It is a time to remember and a time to worship. It is a time to love. It is a festival that has a profound influence on the Filipino way of life and a deep meaning for the Filipino people.

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Notes on the Filipino Culture

Christmas in the Philippines

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Games Filipino Children Play

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National Symbols of the Philippines

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