The filipino christmas

CEBU, Philippines – The local nights have not really grown cold yet, but everyone nevertheless already feels the spirit of the season. Christmas is already about here. The sights and sounds of the merry time have begun to come out.

In the city's Fuente Osmeña, the giant Christmas Tree is now standing and continually being set up. In a matter of days, it is expected to beam at its usual merriest. At the Carbon Market area, the stalls that line the street already twinkle with multi-color lights at night - to the great delight of night market-goers.

In the malls, as well as the stores in the downtown area, Christmas is already in full blast. It is a fact that Philippine Christmas is as much about the spirit of giving as of merrymaking. And the local business establishments are smart enough to capitalize on the tradition.

It is common knowledge that many Filipino Christmas practices date back to the Spanish colonial era. It was the Spaniards that introduced Christianity in the country, in the first place. Pre-Hispanic Filipinos did not celebrate the yuletide season, for sure.

From originally being a religious occasion, Christmas has since become a secular celebration as well. It is a special time for the family to get together. And the gathering of dear family and friends is often characterized by merrymaking and gift-giving.

At home, food is a main feature of the Christmas celebrations. The special fare at the family's dining table sometimes begins right on the first "Misa de Gallo" dawn Mass and goes all the way through Christmas Day. It is usually a showdown of heirloom recipes by the women in the family.

A most significant Christmas custom, aside from attending Mass, is perhaps for Filipino families to sit down at a feast on Christmas Eve after the Christmas Eve mass. The feast, called the Noche Buena, is symbolically a thanksgiving for the blessings the family has enjoyed in the past year, and signifying the abundance desired in the coming year.

Native delicacies like "puto," "biko" and "suman" are standard items in the Noche Buena in most homes. The more affluent would have "hamon" and "keso de bola." Lately, cakes have become a convenient grab for many, owing to the current widespread availability of these Western treats at many bakeshops in the local community.

On the other hand, gift-giving has become almost obligatory in the Filipino Christmas. "Ninongs" and 'ninangs" - godparents - as well as aunts, uncles and parents gladly welcome the burden of having to give to the younger family members, although some families prefer to   exchange gifts, instead. It is also a prevalent practice to buy a gift for oneself at Christmas.

Caroling is still practiced, especially in the rural areas. Children go house-to-house singing Christmas carols in order to woo gifts from the homeowners. Often the carolers are given money; at other times they are let into the house to enjoy a special, delicious treat.

Christmas decorations begin to surface at the start of the so-called "ber" months, in September. The "parol" (lantern) is most common to see. And the Christmas Tree, too, either the type sold at department stores or something creatively made from branches of trees at the backyard.

The business community also goes along with the spirit of the season. Every company holds its own Christmas Party, where both the bosses and ordinary employees get a little loose and be equals. Aside from the 13th month pay for employees that businesses are mandated by law to give, many companies on their own give an additional bonus as a gesture of goodwill to their workers.

The business participation in the Christmas celebrations really cheers things up all the more. The bulk of money that employees get as 13th month pay and bonus livens up the gift-giving and the partying.  And the business establishments are the most audacious when it comes to Christmas decorations.

Overall, the Filipino Christmas is a collaborative production by everybody. And that's just what Christmas is meant to be.