Christmas Ala Pinoy!

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The Filipinos are known for having the longest Christmas celebration in the world. Since most Pinoys are Catholic, the birth of Christ, December 25 is the most celebrated among all the dates on the calendar.

By tradition, Misa the Gallo or “Simbang Gabi” marks the beginning of the celebration. Misa de Gallo is a novena of masses which starts on the night of Dec. 16. This is deemed to be the most important part of the Philippine Christmas tradition.

In some parishes, the Simbang Gabi begins as early as four o’clock in the morning or what they call the “nine mornings”. Going to mass this early for nine consecutive days is meant to show the churchgoer’s devotion and faith. This certainly heightens anticipation for the Nativity of Jesus Christ. In traditional Filipino belief, however, completing the novena is also supposed to mean that God would grant the devotee’s special wish.

After hearing Mass, churchgoers usually indulge themselves to traditional Philippine Christmastime delicacies like puto bungbong (a purple sticky rice delicacy which is steamed in bamboo tubes, with brown sugar and shredded dried coconut meat served as condiments) and bibingka (rice flour and egg based cake, cooked using coals on top of and under the pastry) These delicacies are best matched with a hot cup of ginger tea or “salabat” or coffee.

Once the “Simbang Gabi” starts, children form groups and enjoy hopping from one house to another every night singing Jingle Bells, Silent Night and other traditional Filipino Christmas songs like Pasko na Naman. They would usually end it with “Thank you, thank you, ang babait ninyo thank you!” this is for those who would give these children with money or present. For those tightfisted ones, they would replace the last part with, “ang babarat ninyo, takbo!”

When it comes to Christmas decorations, as early as October, colorful “parol” or star-shaped colorful lanterns, can be noticed among houses, schools, buildings and even along the streets. Major cities and companies on the other hand, usually boast of its giant Christmas trees, Belen or Santa Claus surrounded by twinkling Christmas lights and fancy gifts.

On the night before Christmas day, family members usually gather for Noche Buena. Food is in abundance and everyone is welcome for salu salo. The Christmas Eve gathering provides an opportunity for a reunion of immediate and distant family members to celebrate the season of loving and sharing.

Gift giving follows on the day of Christmas. Of course, this is usually after attending the holy mass. Children, sometimes accompanied by their parents, visit their ninong and ninangs and exitedly wait for their Christmas presents. Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why most people say that Christmas is for kids. This is the time when almost every kid’s simple wishes come true. This is the time when kids get to wear new clothes and shoes. This is the time when relatives or parents working in far off places come home and celebrate this special day called Christmas.

[tags]Christmas Day, Birth of Christ, Noche Buena, Parol, Monito, Monita, Family, Christmas Tress, Belen, Pasko, Puto Bungbong, Bibingka, Simbang Gabi [/tags]