Everything Unique About the Filipino Holiday Season
Christmas is a global celebration, and the traditions that come with it will vary from one country to the next. For some, Christmas is seen as a public holiday where families get together, enjoy a feast, and hand gifts to each other. For others, Christmas day is just a regular day. So there isn’t necessarily a holiday tradition to practice.
Nevertheless, there are hundreds of yuletide traditions around the world. But no one does it better than Filipinos.
With the season fast approaching, I’m here to remind you about the unique traditions that make Filipino Christmas truly iconic.
Filipinos Celebrate the Longest Holiday Season
Filipinos start to feel the holiday spirit as soon as the “-ber” months start. While they don’t necessarily feast daily from September to December, there are unique festive activities that take place.
The first thing you’ll notice will be the Christmas songs played in public places. However, they will not start to dominate the DJ’s playlist until past Halloween. Chances are, you’ll still hear Mariah Carey’s “I don’t want a lot for Christmas…all I want for Christmas is you” as early as September.
Another tradition that is well-loved by many locals is the Kris Kringles. This is a tradition of gift-giving amongst friends, family, and even co-workers. It works the same way as Secret Santa does, but with a twist. Instead of giving gifts on just the Eve of Christmas, Filipinos start to exchange gifts around October or November on a weekly basis.
There will usually be a theme to follow every week, such as something sweet, something that starts with your initial, something soft, etc. The event lasts until the week before Christmas Eve, where the final gifts and the Secret Santa’s name are revealed. Kris Kringle events don’t necessarily have to be extravagant. They can be as simple as a bar of chocolate or a good quality pen for the office.
The next tradition is the Simbang Gabi. In English, it directly translates to going to church at night. The majority of Filipinos are devout Catholics which is why this practice is done yearly. Simbang Gabi follows a series of nine days of mass in anticipation of Christmas.
The mass would usually begin at around 4 o’clock in the morning. Historically, this was mandated by Pope Sixtus V. At the time, the holiday season coincided with the harvest season. And since most of the attendees were farmers, they had to be back on the fields as soon as the mass ended or before the sun rose, so they reached a compromise to have it early.
The tradition of eating puto (steamed rice cake) and sikwate (Filipino version of hot chocolate made from pure, raw chocolate made from roasted cacao pods) was also popular for farmers back then.
The Simbang Gabi is still practiced to this day, and although most of the attendees no longer need to head out to the fields for harvest, masses are still held at four in the morning, followed by a belly-warming feast of Puto and Sikwate.
The Holiday Season is a Family Tradition
We all know that Filipinos have a very familial culture. Consequently, the most important season of the year is also celebrated together with family. For some, the celebration goes out to their extended families as well.
On Christmas Eve, most Filipino families stay awake and celebrate at midnight for the Noche Buena. This is usually a big event, attended by close families and friends. It is also a time when dishes such as Christmas ham, Lechon, and a variety of pasta are served with a bottle of wine.
Friends and family gather around to celebrate the season and give gifts to each other. Since most Filipino families are separated for most of the year — some work in distant cities and provinces, some are in college far away — the government acknowledges Christmas as a non-working holiday so that everyone can spend time with loved ones.
Unique Filipino Christmas Decorations
There are a lot of unique Christmas decorations around the world. You have the cobwebbed Christmas tree from Ukraine, the Nights of the Radishes in Mexico, mistletoes in the United States, and so much more.
Filipinos also have their own take on Christmas decorations distinct from the rest of the world.
The most common Christmas adornment is called the Parol. The Parol or Lantern is star-shaped and decorated with various ornaments. These star-shaped lanterns vary in size from being as small as a person’s hand to something bigger than your car.
Parol is an iconic symbol of Filipino culture and is often celebrated through many Parol-making contests. Schools also encourage creativity during the holiday season by having children make their own Parols with interesting designs.
Another unique Filipino Christmas decoration is called Belen. The Belen is a recreation of the Nativity and is usually seen in homes, schools, and even large establishments. Just like the Parol, the Belen also showcases the creativity of Filipinos with some creations utilizing intricate sculptures.
Aside from Belen and Parol, other common Christmas decorations in Filipino homes are Christmas lights, Christmas trees, and Poinsettia.
Christmas Villages
Filipinos are a very hospitable bunch. They are warm and welcoming to everybody, regardless of origin, which is why aside from celebrating the holidays the Filipino way, they also celebrate Christmas in the spirit of multiple cultures.
This is true in what Filipinos call Christmas Villages. Municipalities across the country build these vibrant displays where people can visit and explore Christmas traditions from around the world, including giant Christmas trees, dancing Santas, and even fake snow to fully understand the idea of “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas.”
Visit The Philippines
The Philippines is well-known around the world for its rich culture. When you delve deeper into their story and way of life, you’ll discover that there’s a lot more to it — elements that set the country apart from the rest.
Visit the Philippines to see the fascinating beauty and rituals of the Filipino people, among other things.
