Being a Filipino and had lived in the Philippines most of my life, I always love the holiday seasons. Maarten, Enna-Marie & I were one time vacationing during the month of December & we enjoyed the spirit of Christmas season. People living & working in the capital city would usually go home to their respective provinces to spend time with their families, also lots of people are shopping in the malls & supermarkets preparing for noche buena, Christmas & New Year's days. Well, here are some facts about celebrating Christmas & New Year in this country taken from one of the sites about Philippine customs during these festive seasons...
The Philippines is known for celebrating the longest Christmas season. You know the season has started when you hear the sad ballad "Pasko na Sinta Ko" playing over the airwaves in Metro Manila. As early as October, western Christmas carols are played in malls to lure early shoppers. Soon after, streets are lined with bright "parols" (lanterns). Thankfully, these momentarily provide motorist visual relief as rush hour traffic builds to a standstill, peaking a day or two before Christmas. Malls and supermarkets are mad houses. Shoppers stand in line for hours to check out and have gifts wrapped. Finding a parking slot is a no small feat; while getting a cab is next to impossible! Perhaps its the countless Kris Kringles (exchange gifts) and Christmas parties adding to the season's chaos. Or we just have to look long and hard for appropriate gifts our incredibly shrinking peso can buy. Or perhaps, many are drifting between sleep and consciousness as they attempt to get up before sunrise for nine straight days to attend dawn masses.
Simbang Gabi
These nine-day dawn masses, known as Simbang Gabi or Misas de Aguinaldo (Gift Masses) starts on December 16. Many Filipinos believe they will obtain special graces by attending all dawn masses. For those wondering, historians trace the Simbang Gabi's origin to Mexico. Spanish missionaries brought the tradition to the Philippines in the 17th century when masses were held as early as 4 o'clock in the morning to accommodate farmers who needed to tend their fields early. As they presumably were during the Spanish era, December nights are about as "chilly" as Philippine weather gets.
The aromas of native Christmas delicacies outside tempt churchgoers. Piping hot bibingka (rice cake), puto bumbong (a purple sticky rice delicacy steamed in wooden tubes), salabat (ginger tea) and thick cocoa are among the traditional breakfast treats for sleep-deprived devotees. The start of Simbang Gabi also marks the start of Christmas caroling in the Philippines. Cool nights come with bursts of firecrackers and kids' shrill interpretations of familiar western and local Christmas songs like, "Jingle Bells", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", and "Pasko Na Naman!"
Noche Buena
After the nine-day dawn masses, the Misa de Gallo is celebrated before midnight of December 24. Then its off to the Noche Buena (traditional Christmas Feast after the midnight mass) to celebrate with the rest of the family. This much-awaited family reunion typically finds excited kids playing and opening gifts. Traditional Noche Buena fare is Queso de Bola (ball of cheese) and Hamon (Christmas Ham), usually served with hot chocolate.
The Post Christmas Calm
The streets are normally free of traffic on Christmas day and the few days after as many take extended vacations. It's the time adults rest their weary bodies and empty wallets! On the other hand, its time for kids to visit carnivals and malls. It's also time to pay their favorite ninongs and ninangs (godfathers and godmothers) fruitful visits!
Oh my, how would one describe Christmas in the Philippines? Warm, festive, crazy, impractical perhaps? One may even argue the essence of Christmas is largely lost in all the frenzy. But that's another story. Whatever it is, it seems to reflect the Filipino's spiritual yearning and fondness of family, food and all that's western! To some extent, it also reflects collective hope, resilience and ability to cope even in the most trying times.
New Year
In Philippines the families gather together at midnight on New Year and eat a midnight meal. This is believed by the people in Philippines would ensure plenty of food in the coming year. The children follow a custom of jumping up and down 10-12 times to grow tall in the coming year. This custom is believed would make the children taller for the coming year. Fireworks are an important part of the New Year celebrations. The people set off fireworks as a symbol of happiness on New Year. The fireworks are seen as a traditional way to greet the New Year with joy. The preparations begin a few days ahead of New Year.
The custom of wishing everyone luck and happiness and seeing off the old year and welcoming the New Year is still prevalent in the country. Dance music and other amusements are the other customs that the people follow on New Year. Media Noche or midnight is an important custom that is followed. On New Year's Eve families gather to have this midnight mass. This midnight mass is believed to symbolize their hopes for a prosperous New Year and to thank God for all His blessings. The custom of making noise and merrymaking is not only meant to have all the fun on New Year but also to drive away evil spirits. The people believe banging on pots and pans and blowing on car horns to be the safer methods of merrymaking on New Year.
The wide populaces in Philippines believe displaying colorful fruit and wearing clothes with dots and other circular designs would be lucky as they symbolize money. Just like the New Year custom of other countries, the people believe in following the custom of eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Year. This would also bring them good luck for the coming year. Opening the doors during the first day of the New Year is a custom that is followed to bring good luck as well.
