Christmas in the Philippines

    In the Philippines, after celebrating the All Saint’s Day, people are now preparing for the coming of the most awaited event - Christmas. Everywhere you go you can always find Christmas trees, Christmas decors and even Christmas lights in the streets, in their respective homes, in the vicinity of each streets and even highways. It is the most highlighted event aside from the New Year which the Filipino people celebrated with a bang.

     Christmas is the season wherein children from all walks of life are enjoying this festivity because they can go from one house to the other to get their “Pamasko” (Gift ) because it’s one of the traditions that was passed on from generation to generation aside from the other traditions that was inculcated in the minds of the Filipino family and these are Simbang-Gabi (Midnight Mass) for nine consecutive days starting Dec. 16 up to Dec. 24, Christmas Caroling, Medya-Noche (Christmas Eve feast) and the Gift-giving on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day itself. Aside from the usual customs, people are always looking forward to the announcements of “Tiangge” (Bazaar) everywhere because they enjoyed shopping at affordable price.

     These customs and traditions will always be in the heart of the Filipino people because these are the folklore that the ancestors passed on to the Filipino people.

Original essay by Patricia Nicole
November 18, 2004