Filipino Style Christmas Celebration

"Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most." - Ruth Carter Stapleton

Christmas Lanterns in the Philippines

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CHRISTMAS is one of the biggest and most celebrated holidays in the Philippines. It is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God. In light of this, the word "Christmas" derives from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus). A mass service (which is sometimes called Communion or Eucharist) is where Christians remember that Jesus died on the cross and then came back to life. The 'Christ-Mass' service was the only one that was allowed to take place after sunset (and before sunrise the next day), so people had it at Midnight. So we get the name Christ-Mass and later on shortened to Christmas. 

By the same token, most of the Filipinos are Christians and that's one of the reasons why Filipinos are a huge believer in Christmas. Similarly, wherever a Filipino would be in the world, one would always say "there's no better place of celebrating Christmas than (here) in the Philippines". So, everyone who's working abroad or far from their families look forward to going home at this time.

Here are some of the Filipino Observance of Christmas.

The observance of Filipino Christmas:

1. THE BER MONTHS. 

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Filipinos have different mindsets for Christmas. Whenever the calendar hits the month that ends in "ber" (like September, October, November, December) they already feel the spirit of Christmas. As a matter of fact, some Filipinos are surprisingly starting to buy Christmas presents in the first week of September. 

Moreover, believe it or not, in the first week of the "ber" month in the Philippines, you can hear Christmas songs being played in the shopping malls, radios, televisions,  etc. Some people are starting to put up Christmas decors (decorations) and lighting up their Christmas trees in their houses, (others are in) establishments, etc. That's how Filipinos soulfully embrace Christmas. Amazing, isn't it?

         

2. THE PAROL. 

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Parol or also known as Lantern is one of the symbols of the Christmas season in the Philippines other than the Christmas Tree of course. The Parol served as the light in each Filipino house. No matter how big or small a house is, as long as there's a Parol it brings the light and spirit of happiness for the Christmas season.

3. MISA DE GALLO.

Misa de Gallo is a Spanish word for the Christmas dawn masses. According to The Free Dictionary by Farlex, Misa de Gallo means "rooster's mass" in Spanish. Both the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking people of the world refer to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve as the rooster's mass. The Portuguese term for "rooster's mass",  missado galo.

It is a nine-day series of dawn masses leading up to Christmas and usually starts on the 16th to the 25th of December. Christians love to attend the whole nine (9) dawn masses (other than the reason that it is one of the religious practices) as it is said to believe that if you completed attending all the nine (9) masses you'll get one wish granted. Who wouldn't love a wish to be granted, right? Kidding aside, this tradition (of attending dawn masses)  started in colonial times and it has passed through from generation to generation, even until today.

4. CHRISTMAS PARTIES.

Christmas Parties are one of the most awaited annual festivities by Filipinos. In fact, even on the first day of the month of December, everyone is ready for gatherings. Be it with friends, family, and special people in their lives.

Some parties are held in the restaurants, others are on the beach, function halls, hotels, and even at home with lovely concepts, etc. 

But what's more . . . ?

The 24th of December is the grandest commemoration of Christmas. Most of the people are celebrating Christmas in their homes with their beloved coupled with various traditional Filipino food or Lechon. 

Also, the best thing is most of the parties are celebrated from dusk to dawn. Yes, that's how unique Christmas is celebrated in the Philippines.

In addition, a Christmas party is not perfect if there's no exchanging of gifts or also known as "Manito Manita". What is Manito Manita? It is an act of exchanging gifts secretly or an exchange gift to secret Santa.

5. GIFT GIVING.

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Of course, the Christmas celebration is never complete without the act of giving gifts (for Filipino culture). It has been a tradition already that one must give gifts to their beloved whether it's small or even cheap. The price or size doesn't matter for what matters most is the thought, as what they say "it's the thought that counts".

For this reason, shopping malls are much preoccupied with this season. Everyone is busy buying gifts for their loved ones and so do godparents for their godchildren. 

                 

Definitely, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, isn't it?    

                  

Happy "Ber" Month everyone! Can you feel the warmth of Christmas? Guess not because of the pandemic we are all facing right now that made us all suffer emotionally and financially.

Anyhow,  no matter how heavy things will be for now we must keep on moving. Someday we can light up our  Christmas Trees with joy and laughter, just like before. After all, we must not forget that Jesus is the true essence of Christmas. 

"Best of all, Christmas means a spirit of love, a time when the love of God and the love of our fellow men should prevail over all hatred and bitterness, a time when our thoughts and deeds and the spirit of our lives manifest the presence of God." - George F. McDougall

♥