Blogger: LORAINEJD

Ah, can you smell that? Or better yet, feel it in the air? The Christmas season is near. I know there's still Halloween, Guy Fawkes Day, Remembrance Sunday, and more to come, but did you know that somewhere in the world, the season has already begun?

Several sources claim that the Philippines celebrates the longest Christmas season. But when does it begin? Let's find out.

'Ber' Months

In the Philippines, the Christmas season begins in September, marking the start of the 'ber' months—September, October, November, and December. This is when the chilly air of the festive season first arrives.

Can you imagine it? Four months of Christmas spirit! The celebrations continue until the Feast of the Three Kings on 6th January.

Christmas Fever

From 1st September, Christmas commercials and songs begin to appear. Decorations like the parol (star lanterns made of paper, wood, or plastic), Christmas lights, and trees are already in place.

A key marker of the season is the music of Filipino singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan. His iconic song Christmas in Our Hearts is synonymous with the start of the festive fever.

Simbang Gabi

Simbang Gabi is a nine-day mass held early in the morning or, in some places, around five or six in the evening. During these nights, Christmas carollers begin visiting homes, spreading festive cheer with their songs.

Many Filipino Catholics believe that if they complete all nine masses, their prayers and Christmas wishes will come true.

Delicacies

Once the Nine Mornings begin, the scent of famous delicacies fills the air. Puto Bumbong and Bibingka are the stars of the season.

Puto Bumbong is a purple Filipino rice cake made from a special sticky rice called pirurutong, naturally tinted to give its distinct colour (Asia Media Center, 2023).

Bibingka is made from rice flour, coconut milk, and water. The mixture is poured into a clay pot lined with banana leaves, which give the cake its distinctive flavour (Asia Media Center, 2023).

These two delicacies are often sold outside churches.

Ninong and Ninang

Ninong and Ninang are the Filipino terms for godfather and godmother. During Christmas, their godchildren, or inaanak, visit them to ask for presents, which may be either money or material gifts.

Noche Buena

In British Commonwealth nations, they celebrate Boxing Day, while in the Philippines, it is marked by Noche Buena, which translates to "Good Night."

This occasion features a grand feast enjoyed on Christmas Eve, often following the midnight Mass known as Misa de Gallo.

Christmas Bonus & 13th Month Pay

Employees in the Philippines receive a Christmas bonus and a 13th Month Pay. The 13th Month Pay, mandated by Philippine labour law under Presidential Decree No. 851, was established by then-President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos in 1975 (Asia Media Center, 2023).

Resources:

https://www.asiamediacentre.org.nz/features/10-ways-of-celebrating-christmas-in-the-philippines