A Picture of a Joyous Filipino Christmas
A midst economic challenges, Christmas for Filipinos is still as bright and colorful as ever because there are a hundred and one ways to celebrate the season. So there’s no reason not to smile because Christmas is in the air.
As early as November, most Filipinos homes are adorned with multi-colored Christmas trees with lights, tinsel and various decorations reminiscent of Filipino ingenuity. Lanterns made of bamboo sticks and giant capiz or cellophane is normally hanged outside to add a little more character. Decorating a house together creates a special bonding in the family.
At the start of December 16 family members particularly the (Roman Catholic) are determined to wake up as early as 4:00am in order to attend the traditional dawn mass or Mesa de gallo heralding the official start of Christmas. This practice is a Filipinos spiritual yearning and fondness of family illustrates the very nature of being religious. This is also the time where Christmas songs will cheer everyone because carolers are there to sing meaningful hymns of the holidays in each house. Money or candies are being given as gifts for the carolers.
On the eve of December 25, the families come home and gather together for the Noche Buena, with different sweets and traditional dishes. Reunions are usually held on the onset of Christmas. From the simple dinner to the usual grand Noche Buena, each family celebrates the occasion with high significance, considering that Filipinos are very close-knit families. Some of the family gatherings are held in an old big house or (ancestral house) where the grandparents live.
Filipinos like to share their blessings, so whatever they have at the table will be shared among the neighbors. Because of the many influences in cooking, some have created their own variety of succulent traditional Christmas Filipino specialties like steamed rice cake, rice cake mix with cheese, ham, queso de bola, round sweet pastry and leche flan.
December 25, is the much awaited day of the year for families especially the children. Younger parents will pay their parents a visit, bringing with them some present for the olds. Frisky children anticipate this day because of the gifts that they will receive aside from the money.
With such unique tradition, Filipinos will always find their way to celebrate the holidays with their family. It is one of the rich Filipino Yuletide traditions that bring them closer to God and the faith that brought the Christmas tradition to every home.
