The Filipino Christmas

The Filipino Christmas  stands out different, from other forms of Christmas celebration.  

Christmas Day, December 25 , is an official holiday, but most Filipinos start  celebrating  as early as November culminating with the New Year’s celebration. Gift giving becomes  pressing, holiday shopping more frenzied,  and partying progressively intense,  as Christmas day draws near. This is also the time when year end bonuses or profit sharing dividends are generously given.

Christmas eve is more revered with religiosity .  Families reunite. Children far away come home. Families gather, stay up late, then attend the misa de gallo, after which they partake of the lavish food called Noche Buena.  

Christmas Day  connects with New Year’s Day, which is still regarded as part of Christmas.  New  Year’s day is, likewise, another official holiday. It is amazing how work slows down at this time of the year.  The new year’s eve is a contest in merry making, in making the  loudest  noise, in exploding the largest number of assorted firecrackers and fireworks.   The stroke of midnight ushering the New Year is practically welcomed by a cacophony of loud deafening noise.

 There is no question that Christmas  is the happiest time of the year.  

How did this unique Filipino celebration of Christmas  come about?

There is perhaps no better explanation  except  the  fusion of  native traditions, with foreign cultural influences.

From Spanish Roman Catholicism we have the misas de gallo, the belen, the food: jamon, quezo de bola, embutido, uvas, manzanas. The strongest  influence is the Spanish fiesta culture

The Filipino inputs consist of the following  native repertoire: bibinka, suman, puto, lechon, parol, and of course the native superstitions.

Chinese influences are seen in the pansit, moon cake, and of course the firecrackers. The American influences could be seen in Santa Claus, fruit cake, cookies, Christmas tree, Christmas cards.

This is what makes the Filipino Christmas different.  This is what draws you home . 

Lest you forget, the central figure of Christmas, is CHRIST our Lord. He might get lost in the trappings.

MERRY CHRISTMAS !