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Christmas in the Philippines
Filipinos are very religious and family-oriented by nature. To us, nothing could ever measure to being with our family and love-ones on special occasions like birthdays, christenings, anniversaries, New Year, and of course Christmas, or Pasko (as we call it regardless of the many different dialect in the country). Filipinos have high regards for Christmas, having known as the ones who celebrates this sacred day the longest and in the moss blissful way.
Christmas preparation starts as early as September and the Christmas season does not only focus on just Christmas eve and the Christmas day itself. Every year when the clock strikes 00:01 of September 1st, people starts to hear Christmas Carols playing signaling the start of the Holiday Season in the Philippines. Some people even start greeting each other “Merry Christmas!”.
On December 16, the festivities peak with a daily pre-dawn Mass, called Misas de Aguinaldo (Gift Masses) or Simbang Gabi (in Tagalog). From this day at 3 o' clock in the morning, the church bells rings a special melody to remind people that --“this is it!”. In some areas (like my city) a band might even play a medley of Christmas tunes to awaken the town. After the mass, churchgoers will filter out into the churchyard to stop by food stalls that line the perimeter of the church serving a wide variety of traditional Filipino foodstuff called kakanin.
Most homes all over the Philippines at Christmastime are decorated with Christmas lights and star-shaped lanterns called parol. Parols are crafted from bamboo sticks and cellophane or colored papers, and recently, recycled materials. These lanterns represent the star of Bethlehem, the guiding light that led the three wise men to the manger where Jesus is believed to be born. This emblem of Philippine Christmas embodies the extraordinary spirit of hospitality that prevails during the season. And this also explains why there is a star on top if every Christmas tree all around the world.
Philippine Christmas is not complete without music, and the season is also celebrated by Filipinos through caroling. In most urban centers and rural areas in the Philippines, a group of carolers visit houses to sing Christmas carols. Some of these carolers raise funds for less fortunate families, while others are simply doing it for the joy of singing. Carolers may be a group of friends, members of special christian communities or civic organization. Others may be family and relatives who have made it a tradition to sing together. In many neighborhoods, groups of kids often form together as amateur carolers and visit houses every night. They will be more than happy to receive coins(change) or candies as reward for singing Christmas carols. These kids often sing out of tune, but are however very creative in using tin cans, plastic containers, and bamboos as their musical instruments. It is the fun of doing it that matters, and the season is right to have that kind of fun.
On Christmas eve around midnight, family members gather for the best meal of the year called noche buena. This usually comes after the entire family has attended a late evening mass or church service about an hour or so before midnight. The noche buena could last until about four o'clock in the morning on Christmas day. Then it is during Christmas day that big family reunions are held with a feast of more good food, more singing, and more dancing. Even the poorest of the poor in the Philippines sees to it that they have something on their table to celebrate Christmas. Those who “can afford” would prepare a feast where the food would usually last for 2 to 3 days. Others would simply spend a bit more than their usual meal just to rekindle the Christmas spirit.
Christmas in the Philippines is also a special day for aguinaldo or Christmas gifts, for a courtesy call to godparents, and for visits to friends and relatives. In general, members of the family exchange gifts following noche buena. On the following day, inaanak (godchildren) visit their ninong (godfather) and ninang (godmother) on Christmas day to ask for their blessings and, in turn, godparents traditionally hand over gifts to their godchildren. It is also the day for many families to hold get-together of extended family clan members (grandparents, grandchildren, cousins, uncles and aunts) with a feast of good food, singing, and dancing.
Recession, global warming, typhoon, drought, unemployment, poverty and even war is beyond the Filipinos when it comes to Christmas. We celebrate Christmas as if it is indeed the time to be merry and gay like no other time. Just writing this blog puts me in that celebrating mood. This reminds me of the songs, the decorations, the atmosphere, the parties, the smiling people everywhere! As if it is in another planet on a different time!
Merry Christmas everyone!!!
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