Top 6 Unique Filipino Christmas traditions

When does Christmas officially start in the Philippines? While many countries wait until Halloween is over to put up their Christmas decor, the Philippines has already had a huge holiday headstart.

With around 78 per cent of Filipinos practicing Catholicism, Christmas is one religious holiday that’s taken seriously.

So how do Filipinos celebrate Christmas? Here are the top six unique Filipino Christmas traditions:

1. Christmas comes in September

Christmas is a big deal in the Philippines.

As soon as the “Ber” months start (that means as early as September), be prepared to see Christmas decor being put up everywhere, and don’t be surprised to hear Christmas carols played while shopping at the mall.

Forget other Filipino holidays such as Bonifacio Day, Halloween, or All Saints Day…Christmas trumps everything.

2. Christmas Parols, not carols

Brightly-lit lanterns called parols adorn Filipino homes during the holiday season. These lanterns are made of materials such as colourful Japanese paper, capiz shells, bamboo, and other recycled materials, and are lit electronically.

The most common parol shape is a star, but there are so many varieties, colours and shapes to choose from.

3. Simbang Gabi’s early wake-up call

For nine days before Christmas Eve, faithful Christians make the trek to church before dawn, attending mass around 4 or 5 in the morning.

“Simbang Gabi” was introduced to Filipinos by Spanish missionaries in the 17th century. This Christmas tradition is also called “misa de gallo”, or rooster’s mass, because of its timing.

The early morning mass starts on December 16, bringing the community together, and reminds Filipinos of the upcoming celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

It is believed that if one attends all nine Simbang Gabi masses, one’s wishes will come true.

4. Treats after Mass

Perhaps to entice Filipinos to go to early morning mass, Filipino treats such as puto, kutsinta, and puto bumbong are available for purchase outside churches, or shared with the congregation, after Simbang Gabi.

Often paired with hot cocoa, coffee or tea, the warm, freshly cooked treats and drinks make the painfully early wake-up calls a little sweeter on everyone’s morning routines.

5. Move over, Mariah Carey, Christmas is in our hearts

If there’s one Christmas song that gets played in the Philippines more often than Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas”, it is most likely the song “Christmas in our Hearts” by Jose Mari Chan and daughter Liza Chan.

With Chan’s soothing vocals, spiritual lyrics and Liza’s beautiful voice, the hit song has been played on repeat around the holidays since 1990. Other popular Filipino Christmas songs include “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit” and “Pasko na naman”.

6. Noche Buena

Christmas Day in the Philippines is actually celebrated with friends and family on Christmas Eve.

It is often the only night in the whole year when Filipino children are allowed to stay up until midnight, when the family gets to exchange gifts and eat together with extended family and friends.

The star of Noche Buena, which means “good night” in Spanish, is often lechon, or roast pig, coupled with ham, embutido, pansit, lumpia and fruit salad.

Family members, or the lechoneros, often start roasting the pig early during the day, churning the lechon manually above hot coals all day long, stopping only when the skin gets all red and crispy.

The lechon is almost always present and served during birthday parties, weddings and large gatherings. It is perhaps the Philippines’ most iconic dish.