Celebrating Christmas in the Philippines

by Elizabeth Bautista

Christmas season in the Philippines is a celebration of beliefs and family traditions. No other occasion is as grand, festive, colorful and bedecked. That is probably why we have the longest Christmas season in the world – beginning some time early in the “ber” months and lasting well into the first weeks of the coming year. And come December, airports all over the world are filled with long lines of Filipinos making their trek back home: it is the time of year to come home and be with the family.

In mid November, after All Souls Day, Filipinos put up Christmas decorations. Among the first to be put up is the parol or star lantern. The most popular Christmas symbol in the country, the lantern is found everywhere. It represents the star of Bethlehem.

One of the oldest Filipino symbols of Christmas is the Nativity scene or Belen made out of woodcarvings or ceramics. The figures of the Magi are added on the epiphany.

The only Asian nation where Christianity predominates, the Philippines officially starts the Christmas season on December 16 with a novena known as the Misa de Gallo or Gift Masses. These Gift Masses were held during the harvest season when farmers had to be in the fields at the crack of dawn. As an accommodation, the masses were moved to 4 am. After the service people sell glutinous rice steamed in tubes and grated coconut. The Novena ends on Christmas Eve.

Children sing Christmas carols from one house to another every night until Christmas day. People usually hand out candies or money to them as a way of gift giving. The nativity scene is usually re-enacted in church. After the Midnight Mass, the whole family sits at the table to eat the midnight feast. Usually held at the grandparents’ home, this is the time the clan gathers for the annual reunion. It is also the time for exchanging Christmas gifts. On Christmas Day, children visit their godfathers and godmothers to collect their Christmas presents.

Christmas in the Philippines is replete with history and legend. We remember the event from which the custom originated: the birth of our Savior. After all, He is the whole point of Christmas.

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