Celebrating a Filipino Style Christmas
Christmas, in the Philippines, is an extremely important and venerated holiday because a major chunk of the Filipino population is made up of Roman Catholics.
In fact, the Philippine is the only country in Asia where Christians are in the majority. It is known as the ‘Land of Festivals’ (Land of Fiestas) and when Christmas comes round every year one can understand why. The festival is looked forward to, the whole year, as a time for food, fun and friendship and it is the time when most Filipinos come together with family, friends and loved ones. Christmas in Philippines is supposed to be the longest and the merriest in the world. Here are some pointers to enjoying the festival, Filipino style.
A few suggestions
- Switch on your radios and listen to different stations playing carols right from Halloween onwards.
- Officially begin the festival on December 16th while attending the first of the nine pre-dawn or early morning masses that go on unabated till the first Sunday in January.
- Unofficially, you could begin preparation for the coming festival from September itself. Bring home the star shaped lanterns (known as parols, representing the star of Bethlehem), place lighted candles inside them and hang them up in your homes, in windows and doors.
- Hang brightly colored buntings or streamers both inside as well as outside your homes. Use wreaths and Christmas cards, depicting scenes from the festival, to brighten up your living room.
- Invite people over for meals or go out to attend parties either at relatives’ or friends’ places or at restaurants and hotels.
- Attend the traditional Misa de Gallo (or mass of the rooster), every day from December 16th to 24th. Enjoy the hot Christmas treats of tsokolate (hot cocoa), puto and bibingka.
- Attend the midnight mass on Christmas Eve with family and friends and head back home for the Nocha Buena (Christmas Eve feast) that may consist of ham, fetuccine, turkey and a whole roast suckling pig (lechon). Continue to exchange presents and party till the wee hours of Christmas morning.
Do’s
- Wish Maligayang Pasko (Merry Christmas) to all your friends and family.
Don’ts
- Have fun and make merry don’t get into the intricacies of doing everything just so.
Very cool information…I also stumbled on a site that had some additional information on Filipino traditions. (http://www.santas.net/philippineschristmas.htm). Good info…I’ll be back!
September 22nd, 2007 at 10:04 am