Christmas in the Philippines

Christmas in the Philippines is different from other countries. Its the longest celebration which starts from December 16 and ends on the first sunday of January, which falls the day of Three Kings. Nearly half of the year is considered christmas in the Phil. Some people starts their celebration in the late August and ends till the early January. September 1st is the start of Christmas in the Philippines. Stores and streets will be playing christmas music non stop. Usually once the "BER" months (months that ends in "ber") starts. Christmas is also the most happiest and celebrated event that's why some if not most of the Filipino people that resides in other countries make it a point to go back home for christmas.

There are a lot of traditions that Filipinos misses. Like in early November, a star shaped multi colored lanterns adorn buildings, houses, schools, offices, shopping malls, and streets. Some people call it midnight masses every night, which actually starts at 4AM of December 16th and ends at midnight December 24th. Other traditions are the exchanging of gifts known as Kris Kringle, christmas caroling where children form groups and go from house to house every night. Since pine trees are not that common in the Phil, christmas trees are instead made of different materials such as recycled things to most equisite form of art. Companies put up christmas tree with different themes. Noche buena or christmas eve feast happens after the midnight mass. People from different countries would think that Filipinos are feeding an army, just by the list of foods serves such as morcon (type of chorizo), embutido (meatloaf), relyenong bangus (stuffed milkfish), lumpia(fried spring roll), pansit (Filipino noodles), and for those who can afford the "Lechon ( roasted pig) . There are different dishes depending on the family's specialty; ham is always on the table but not being eaten till morning for breakfast after being sliced and fried along wiht pan de americano (slided bread); there's also suman (glutinous rice wrapped in
banana leaves) served with egg custard (most popular dessert).

Christmas day is a family affair. After the mass, the families visit members of the extended families, paying respect to the elders by visiting them and do the old age tradition "Pagmamano" which means that touching one's forehead to the elder's hand saying "Mano po" and elders then blesses them with respect. Christmas lunch is a reunion of family members- kids visits uncles, aunts, godparents, etc. Every house visited, foods will be offered to eat because the family made something special for the day. Then on christmas eve is another reunion with immediate and distant relatives.