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Christmas in the Philippines
People in the Philippines like to celebrate Christmas for as long as possible! The playing of Christmas carols in shops can start in September! The formal Christmas celebrations start on 16th December when many people go the the first of nine pre-dawn or early morning masses. The last mass is on Christmas day. The Christmas celebrations continue to the First Sunday in January when Epiphany or the Feast of the Three Kings is celebrated.
An old Spanish name for the early masses held before Christmas is Misa de Aguinaldo. In Spanish aguinaldo means a gift, so Misa de Aguinaldo means the 'gift masses' and possibly means that getting up early shows your dedication and love for Jesus at Christmas!
Most Filipinos are Christians with about 80% of people being Catholics. It's the only Asian country with so many Christians. Because of this Christmas is the most important holiday in the Philippines. It's also hot at Christmas as the Philippines are several tropical islands!
Christmas customs in the Philippines are a mixture of western (USA and UK) and native Filipino traditions. So people in the Philippines have Santa Claus/Father Christmas, Christmas trees, Christmas cards and Christmas carols from western countries!
They also have their own customs such as the 'pah-role' which is a bamboo pole or frame with a lighted star lantern on it. It represents the star that guided the Wise Men. It's the most popular decoration in the Philippines.
Christmas Eve is very important in the Philippines. Many people stay awake all night into Christmas day! On the morning of the 24th people go to the last mass before Christmas and after that they start to prepare the 'Noche Buena' a big meal that's eaten after midnight on Christmas eve/Christmas day.
The Noche Buena is a big, open house, celebration with family, friends and neighbors dropping in to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! There's lots of food which is normally served like a buffet. Some Filipino Christmas foods include lechon (roasted pig), barbecue, rice and cakes (a 'western' christmas cake and rice cakes). There's also normally lots of beer, wine, and other drinks!
In the Philippines (Tagalog) Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Maligayang Pasko'. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages.