Christmas in the Philippines facts for kids
Christmas in the Philippines (Filipino: Pasko sa Pilipinas) is one of the biggest holidays in the country. The Philippines is one of two main Catholic countries in Asia. It celebrates the world's longest Christmas season! Christmas carols can be heard as early as September 1. The celebrations can last until Epiphany (early January), the Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9, or the Feast of the Santo Niño on the third Sunday of January.
The official Christmas season for the Catholic Church in the Philippines starts on the first day of Advent. It ends on the Feast of the Epiphany, which is the first Sunday after New Year's Day.
Every year, Filipinos worldwide mark September 1 as the start of the Christmas countdown. This period, from September to December, is known as the "Ber months." It is a very important tradition that makes the Christmas season so long and early.
The Christmas season slowly begins from September 1 and lasts until December 25. It can end in January or even February. This means it's celebrated for almost half a year! Holiday decorations are often available by late August. However, for members of the Aglipayan church, Christmas starts on Christmas Eve and ends on January 1.
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What "Pasko" Means
In Filipino and most other local languages, the word Paskó usually means Christmas. It comes from the Spanish phrase "pascua de navidad." This means "Easter of the Nativity." Over time, the "de navidad" part was dropped. The word pascua then became part of local languages.
The word Paskó is also used in other Christmas-related words. For example, Kapaskuhán means the Christmas season. A namamaskó is a caroler. Pamamaskó is the act of carolling. A pamaskó is a Christmas gift or present. Pampaskó or pang-Paskó means "for Christmas." This can refer to clothes worn on Christmas Day.
How Christmas Started in the Philippines
Christmas celebrations in the Philippines are deeply influenced by Catholicism. This goes back to when Spain ruled the country from 1521 to 1898. Today, the Philippines has the longest Christmas season in the world. It starts on September 1.
Christmas Traditions
Simbang Gabi and Misa de Gallo
Simbang Gabi means "Night Mass." In Spanish, it's called Misa de Gallo, or "Rooster's Mass." These are special dawn Masses held for nine days. They start on December 16 and end on December 24 (Christmas Eve).
Many Catholics and Aglipayans attend Simbang Gabi. Some other Christian churches also have similar services. Going to these Masses shows strong devotion to God. It also builds excitement for Christ's birth. Many people believe that if you attend all nine Masses, God will grant a special wish.
These morning Masses start very early, sometimes as early as 3:00 AM. Some churches also have "anticipated" Masses the evening before. After Mass, families often buy traditional Filipino breakfast foods outside the church. Vendors sell delicious treats like bibingka (a rice cake cooked with coal) and putò bumbóng (a purple sticky rice steamed in bamboo). Drinks like coffee, salabát (ginger tea), and tsokolate (thick hot chocolate) are also popular.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve on December 24 is a big celebration for Catholic Filipinos. It includes a Midnight Mass and the traditional Noche Buena feast. Noche Buena means "Good Night" in Filipino Spanish.
Families eat together around midnight. The feast includes foods like queso de bola (a ball of Edam cheese), tsokoláte, noodles, fruit salad, pandesal (bread rolls), and hamón (Christmas ham). Some families also open presents at this time.
Panunulúyan
In some places, people re-enact the journey of Joseph and the pregnant Virgin Mary. They search for a place to stay. This play is called "Panunulúyan." It is based on the Spanish tradition of Las Posadas.
The Panunulúyan happens after dark. Actors playing Joseph and Mary go to different houses. They sing to ask for lodging. The "house owners" (also actors) cruelly turn them away, sometimes singing back. Finally, Joseph and Mary go to the church. A replica of the stable is set up there. The birth of Jesus is celebrated at midnight with the Misa de Gallo.
Christmas Carols
During the Christmas season, especially around Simbang Gabi, groups of Filipinos go from house to house singing carols. This is called "caroling." They often use homemade instruments. These can be drums or tambourines made from recycled materials like bottle caps. After singing, they say "Namamasko po!" Homeowners then give them small amounts of money. The carolers thank them by singing, "Thank you, thank you, ang babait ninyo (you are so kind), thank you!"
Christmas Day
Christmas Day in the Philippines is mostly a family event. The Misa de Gallo is celebrated on December 25. It is often one of several Masses that all family members attend. Many Filipinos prefer to celebrate Misa de Gallo between 10 PM and midnight. This is because they stay up late for the Noche Buena feast. Fireworks and other festive noises are sometimes used to mark the start of Christmas.
In the morning, Filipinos usually visit their extended family. They especially show respect to older relatives. This custom is called "Págmamáno." A younger person takes the elder's hand and gently presses it to their forehead. They say, "Máno, pô" (meaning, "Your hand, please"). The elder often gives a blessing or a simple acknowledgment. In return, they give "Aguinaldo" or money. This money is often new banknotes in a sealed envelope, like an ang pao. Godparents are expected to give presents or aguinaldo to their godchildren. They often give more than other relatives.
A festive lunch often follows the "Págmamáno." The food depends on the family's budget. Richer families prepare grand feasts, while others cook simpler but special dishes. Some families choose to open presents after lunch on this day.
In the evening, family members usually go home or stay to chat, play games, and drink. Some might have another feast for dinner. A few spend the whole day resting after the previous days' celebrations.
Niños Inocentes
Holy Innocents' Day, or Niños Inocentes, is on December 28. Filipinos used to celebrate this day by playing practical jokes on each other. It was similar to April Fools' Day. A common prank was to borrow money without planning to pay it back. People were warned not to lend money on this day!
New Year's Eve
On December 31 (Bisperas ng Bagong Taón), Filipino families gather for the Media Noche. This is a big midnight feast. It is believed to bring good luck and wealth for the coming year. The feast lasts until the next morning, just like the Noche Buena on Christmas Eve.
Filipinos make a lot of noise to welcome the New Year. They also believe that the noise scares away bad spirits. Even though there are bans, many people light firecrackers. Safer ways to make noise include banging pots and pans or blowing car horns.
Other traditions for good luck include:
- Encouraging children to jump at midnight to grow taller.
- Displaying round fruits like oranges.
- Wearing clothes with dots or circular designs to symbolize coins and money.
- Eating twelve grapes at midnight for good luck in each of the twelve months (a Spanish custom).
- Opening all windows and doors to let in blessings on the first day of the year.
Three Kings' Day
Christmas officially ends on the Feast of the Epiphany. This is more commonly known as Three Kings' Day (Día de los Tres Reyes in Spanish; Araw ng Tatlóng Harì in Tagalog). It falls on the first Sunday of January.
An old tradition, which is slowly fading, is for children to leave their shoes by the window or door. The Three Kings are supposed to leave small gifts like candy or money inside on Twelfth Night.
Feast of the Black Nazarene
The Black Nazarene is a famous religious image. Its followers are mainly in Manila and Cagayan de Oro. A large procession for it happens on January 9. This date remembers when the image was moved in 1787. It went from its original spot in Rizal Park to its current home in Quiapo District.
Feast of the Santo Niño
The latest date for popular Christmas celebrations to end is the Feast of the Santo Niño (Christ Child). This is on the third Sunday of January. The most famous image for this day is the miraculous Santo Niño de Cebú. It was the first Christian icon brought to the islands.
In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan came to Cebú. He gave the image as a gift to Humamay, the queen of the local ruler, Raja Humabon. She and her husband were baptized into the Catholic faith. Tradition says that Humamay, who was named Juana, danced with joy when she received the Santo Niño. This is why there is fervent religious dancing during the Sinulog festival.
Celebrations are mostly in Cebu, where the Sinulog Festival is held. Other celebrations happen nationwide. These include the Ati-Atihan Festival in Aklan, the Dinagyang in Iloilo, and feasts in Tondo and Pandacan in Manila. The main church of the Aglipayans is also dedicated to the Santo Niño.
The Feast of Our Lady of the Candles
In older traditions, Christmas lasted until Candlemas, on February 2. This day celebrates the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Baby Jesus at the Temple. This marked the end of a long 40-day "Christmastide." Many churches still display their Nativity scenes until this day.
This final celebration is marked by the Feast of Our Lady of the Candles in Jaro, Iloilo City. The image is in the Jaro Cathedral. Similar celebrations are held in towns where Our Lady of the Candles is the patron saint, like Candelaria, Quezon.
Christmas Decorations
Modern decorations like Santa Claus, Christmas trees, tinsel, and fake snow have become popular. Christmas lights are strung everywhere. They are used as stars, tails of the Star of Bethlehem in Belens, and on Christmas trees. Some people even cover their whole house in lights. Despite these new decorations, the Philippines still keeps its traditional ones.
Paról
Every Christmas season, Filipino homes and buildings are decorated with star-shaped lanterns. These are called paról. The word comes from the Spanish farol, meaning "lantern" or "lamp." These lanterns represent the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Kings. Paról are as loved and iconic to Filipinos as Christmas trees are to Westerners.
The most common paról is a 5-pointed star with two "tails" at the bottom. Other popular ones have four, eight, or ten points. The first paról were made from simple materials. These included bamboo, Japanese rice paper, or crêpe paper. They were lit by candles or coconut oil lamps. Simple paról can be made easily with just ten bamboo sticks, paper, and glue. Today, paról come in many shapes and are made from various materials. These include cellophane, plastic, rope, capiz shell, glass, and even recycled items. Making paról is a folk craft. Many Filipino children make them for school projects or fun.
The Giant Lantern Festival is held every year in San Fernando City, Pampanga. It takes place on the Saturday before Christmas Eve. The festival features a competition of huge lanterns. Because of this popular festival, San Fernando City is known as the "Christmas Capital of the Philippines."
Belén
Another traditional Filipino Christmas symbol is the belén. This is a creche or display showing the Birth of Christ. The name Belén comes from the Spanish name for Bethlehem. It shows baby Jesus in the manger, surrounded by the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, shepherds, their animals, and the Magi. An angel or the Star, or both, are usually above it.
Belén were brought by the Spanish in the 16th century. They are a very common and important Christmas symbol in the Philippines. They are as important as the parol. Paról are often part of the belén scene as a light source. Both the Belén and the parol were the main Christmas decorations in Filipino homes before Americans introduced the Christmas tree. Most churches in the Philippines also turn their altars into a Belén at Christmas. They are also found in schools, government buildings, stores, and public places.
Belén can be seen in homes, churches, schools, and offices. The ones in office buildings can be very fancy. They use different materials for the figures and have Christmas lights and paról for the Star. They also have painted backgrounds. A famous outdoor belén in Metro Manila used to be at the Manila COD department store. It was a lights and sounds show, with the story told over speakers. The figures often moved using special machines.
Tarlac City, Tarlac is known as the "Belén Capital of the Philippines." It holds an annual "Belenísmo sa Tarlac" contest. Businesses and people in Tarlac create belén for this contest. Giant belén with different themes are displayed in front of buildings and along roads in Tarlac throughout the season.
Caroling
In the Philippines, children often go in small groups from house to house singing Christmas carols. This is called pangangaroling. They use homemade instruments like tambourines made from bottle caps strung on wire. They traditionally chant "Namamasko po!" and wait for homeowners to give them coins. Afterward, they thank the generous homeowners by singing, "Thank you, thank you, ang babait ninyo (you are so kind), thank you!"
An example of a traditional Filipino carol is part of a series called "Maligayang Pasko", often known as "Sa maybahay ang aming bati". The tradition of carols comes from the many years of Spanish rule. Spanish traditions from Latin America were adapted to fit the Philippines.
Aguinaldo
This word is heard a lot during the Christmas Season in the Philippines. Today, Aguinaldo means a gift or money received from people who give them. Aguinaldo is a Spanish word for a bonus. Its common use might have come from Filipino workers during the Spanish era. They received extra pay from rich employers during Christmas.
See also
- Holy Week in the Philippines
