Celebrating Christmas: Filipino Edition

The magic of Filipino Christmas is unparalleled in the world. Everything seems to change in an instant when the clock strikes twelve and we enter the month of September. The cold night air seems brighter, and our busy, fast-paced streets are brimming with holiday cheer.

Christmas is a holiday, and more specifically, a season that many Filipinos cherish. One can only imagine how difficult it must have been for the residents to be isolated for three years due to the pandemic. Because of their deep emotional and cultural ties to it, families and other loved ones were able to connect through the holiday spirit.

After much anticipation, Christmas is finally making a big comeback for Filipinos this year, which has raised many people's hopes and excitement. With everyone throwing parties here and there, it's clear that they've been waiting a long time to relive the magic. That being said, whether you want to celebrate it for yourself or simply learn about it, you can get some tips from Filipinos on some of the things that really make the Filipino Christmas shine!

The Culture and Tradition

You heard it right! Christmas is a five-month season in the Philippines, with many layers of celebration. It all starts in September, when Filipinos start putting together their Christmas decorations. Many of the festivities take place during the month of December with parties, gatherings, concerts, and other events.

However, the Philippines is a deeply religious country with Christianity at its heart. With that religious influence, it's no surprise that Christmas is such a significant season locally, but this devotion can also be seen through the traditional activities associated with the holiday. Many special masses are held during the "advent season," such as the event-filled simbang gabi. Filipino Catholics attend a series of masses from December 16 to 24, with the masses taking place later in the day, such as 7:00PM to 5:00AM. Misa de Gallo is the Christmas Eve mass, and Misa de Aguinaldo is the midnight mass before Christmas.

The Food

But what do all of the preceding celebrations have in common? Of course, there's religion... and food! Delicious Filipino rice delicacies such as puto bumbong (purple-colored sticky rice cake) and bibingka (coconut-rice cakes) await you outside the church after simbang gabi. Even though times have changed, the entire family stays up to celebrate Christmas Eve from midnight onwards, which is known as noche buena. Filipinos love their food, so it doesn't stop there; on Christmas Day, each household holds their very own feasts with dishes like morcon, buko salad, lechon (roasted pig or chicken), leche flan, and many others.

Going back to noche buena, there will be recurring dishes such as pancit, which symbolizes a longer life, various rice cakes, which symbolize togetherness, and the widely beloved lumpia, adobo, and kalderata dishes. A warm cup of tsokolate (hot chocolate) made with locally sourced tablea (chocolate tablets) made from native cocoa beans would not be a traditional Filipino noche buena. There is also the Spanish-Mexican influences such as queso de bola (Edam cheese ball) eaten with the sweet and savory hamón (ham) and pandesal. Another is the rice delicacies such as FIlipino tamales that are also frequently paired with pandesal and finally, the aforementioned puto bumbong and bibingka.

Filipinos make delicious Christmas dishes and with that, Mangan’s got your back! Choose a gift of love to send to your loved ones this holiday season here!

The Decor

Finally, one of the things that truly adds to the magic of Filipino Christmas is the vibrant lights and decorations that illuminate the night. Filipino artisans, in particular, create intricately designed parols, which are ornamental lanterns that serve as the centerpiece of the entire Christmas decor ensemble. It usually includes imagery related to Jesus' birth as well as romantically colorful designs to complement it. It can also be crafted with a lot of symbolism, such as a star to represent the Star of Bethlehem. Though not all parols are intricate, especially when many people try to make their own, they are still a popular design element in Filipino homes during the holiday season.

Another is the belen, a tableau-style model depicting the nativity or birth of Jesus. It is typically made with a large number of figurines and great attention to detail, particularly with the elements placed in the scene. Typically, the holy couple, Mary and Joseph, are made the focal point, along with the newly born Jesus in a stable. Surrounding them are a variety of farm animals, three kings, the shepherds who own the stable, and, on occasion, angels.

Since then, Filipinos have owned the spirit of Christmas and have consistently created Filipino-centered designs through their artistry and nationalism.

Best Shared with your Loved Ones

The true spirit of Filipino Christmas is being able to spend the holidays with the people you care about the most, whether they are your families, significant others, friends, or anyone else you care about. So remember to share your love with those around you and have a wonderful holiday season!