Christmas in the Philippines
philippine christmas filipino pasko pɐsˈkɔʔ major annual celebration country christian world celebrated public holiday country december concurrent country one two predominantly catholic country asia one east timor philippine celebrates world longest christmas season filipino kapaskuhan spanning refers ber month christmas music played early august holiday season gradually begin september reach peak december christmastide concludes within week new year day however festivity may last third sunday january feast day santo niño liturgically christmas season observed catholic church first day advent fourth sunday christmas three king day varies occurs sunday january filipino philippine language word paskó commonly refers christmas come spanish phrase pascua de navidad lit easter nativity latter part de navidad fell use leaving word pascua assimilated local language year meanwhile spanish word pascua descended latin pascha borrowed ancient greek πάσχα páskha meaning passover language spoken country including chavacano spanishbased creole hiligaynon ilocano spanishderived word pascua still use although spelling may vary kapampangan pasku also spelled pascu word related tagalog paskó used krismas filipinized rendering english word christmas also used occasionally nonformal context word paskó serf root word christmasrelated term kapaskuhán name christmas season namamaskó caroller pamamaskó act caroling pamaskó christmas gift present pampaskó pangpaskó literally mean christmas may refer clothing worn day holiday add pamamasko act christian child going house house greeting christmas cheer relative friend asking christmas gift whether cash kind time went church every christmas morning celebration christmas philippine deep influence catholicism tracing root back spanish colonial rule currently philippine hold longest running festivity christmas season world begin september various ethnic group philippine observe different christmas tradition following generally common simbang gabi night mass spanish misa de gallo rooster mass misa de aguinaldo gift mass novena dawn mass december christmas eve simbang gabi practiced mainly catholic aglipayans evangelical christian independent protestant church adopted practise prechristmas dawn service attending mass meant show devotion god heightened anticipation christ birth folk belief hold god grant special wish devotee hears nine mass morning observance simbang gabi holiday begin early rarely late rarely pst parish church others anticipated mass begin previous evening pst early late pst even pst hearing mass catholic family buy traditional filipino holiday fare breakfast outside church eat either within church precinct home vendor offer many native delicacy including bibingka rice flour eggbased cake cooked using coal burner putò bumbóng purple sticky rice delicacy steamed bamboo tube buttered sprinkled brown sugar shredded dried coconut meat drink include coffee salabát ginger tea tsokolate thick spanishstyle hot chocolate aglipayan church invite congregation partake paínit literally heater postmass snack mostly rice pastry served coffee cocoa house mass sponsor bibingka putò bumbóng also served attending anticipated evening mass together dinner catholic filipino christmas eve filipino bisperas ng pasko spanish víspera de navidad december celebrated midnight mass traditional noche buena filipino spanish good night feast family member dine together around midnight family would also open present time noche buena christmas dinner eaten around midnight christmas eve known noche buena confused new year eve dinner known medianoche common traditional dish served meal include lechón various type pancit noodle filipino spaghetti hamonado jamón queso de bola morcón embutido chicken galantina almondigas meatball paelya arroz valenciana bringhe etc lumpia menudo mechado caldereta callos chicken pastel relyenong bangús stuffed milkfish lengua estofado adobo various type barbecue inihaw almost dish eaten white rice dessert side dish include úbe halayá turon leche flan macaroni salad membrilyo fruit salad buko salad crema de fruta ensaymada champorado mango float fruitcake castañas roasted chestnut various kakanin rice cake like puto bumbong bibingka suman biko sapinsapin popular beverage tsokolate well coffee soda wine beer alcoholic drink fruit juice panunulúyan different province school journey joseph pregnant virgin mary search lodging reenacted pageant traditionally called panunulúyan pananawágan pananapátan modeled spanish la posadas panunulúyan performed dark actor portraying joseph virgin mary going predesignated house perform chant meant rouse owner house also actor request lodging owner cruelly turn away sometimes also song saying house already filled guest finally joseph mary make way parish church replica stable set birth jesus celebrated midnight misa de gallo christmas day philippine primarily family affair misa de gallo celebrated december usually one several mass family member including nonchurchgoers present often celebrated pm midnight schedule preferred many filipino stay late christmas eve nightlong celebration noche buena firework merrymaking device sometimes used start christmas preferably morning filipino typically visit extended family especially pay respect senior relative custom giving respect enacted págmamáno supplicant take back elder hand press forehead giving greeting máno pô lit thy hand please elder often responds reciting blessing simply acknowledging gesture return give aguinaldo money form crisp banknote often placed sealed envelope ang pao godparent particular socially obligated give present aguinaldo godchild often give larger amount compared younger relative festive lunch may follow págmamáno menu heavily dependent upon finance family richer family preparing grand feast poorer family choose cook simple yet special dish family choose open present day lunch nighttime fall member family usually return home linger drink play parlor game chat may opt another feast dinner minority spend entire day home rest previous day festivity holy innocent day childermas commemorated december niños inocentes filipino celebrated day playing practical joke one another similar april fool day one widely practiced prank day borrow money without intention paying back creditor usually helpless getting remuneration borrower instead forewarned lend money day victim prank called naniños inocentes ka december bisperas ng bagong taón filipino family gather medium noche lavish midnight feast supposedly symbolizes hope prosperity coming year last following morning noche buena taken christmas eve filipino make noise greet new year belief din exorcises surroundings malevolent spirit spite yearly ban due national government restriction people town city customarily light firecracker employ safer method merrymaking banging pot pan blowing car horn tradition belief include encouraging child jump stroke midnight increase height displaying circular fruit orange wearing clothes dot circular design symbolize coin money eating twelve grape midnight good luck twelve month year spanish custom opening window door let blessing first day year christmas officially end feast epiphany commonly known three king day spanish día de los tres reyes filipino araw ng tatlóng harì fall first sunday new year day dying tradition hispanic custom child leaving shoe window door three king leave small gift like candy money inside upon descent twelfth night black nazarene whose devotee primarily centered manila cagayan de oro borne procession january novena honor date commemorates image traslación solemn transfer original location rizal park present shrine quiapo district city latest date end popular christmas celebration feast santo niño christ child third sunday january image depiction associated day purportedly miraculous santo niño de cebú first christian icon brought island ferdinand magellan came cebú gave image present humamay chief consort local monarch raja humabon together husband number subject baptized catholic faith tradition hold humamay—who received christian name juana joan castile—danced joy upon receiving santo niño providing legendary origin fervent religious dancing sinulog held honor christ child celebration mostly focused cebu sinulog festival held celebration held nationwide honor including atiatihan festival aklan province dinagyang iloilo kahimunan butuan feast holy child district tondo pandacan manila national cathedral central church iglesia filipina independiente aglipayans dedicated santo niño several parish mission around country older tradition still kept liturgical calendar extraordinary form mass christmas lasted candlemas feast purification mary presentation baby jesus temple marked end long day christmastide corresponding day lent date fall february mary participated rite purification according ancient candlemas festival rooted halakha jewish law also simeon make wellknown prophecy mary joseph holy child jesus light gentile many parish possible still keep nativity scene displayed celebration presentation lord february final salvo marked feast lady candle jaro iloilo city image enshrined jaro cathedral national shrine lady candle tridentine mass celebrated commemoration similar celebration held nationwide town lady candle patroness including candelaria quezon whose town fiesta celebrated date due secularization decoration santa claus christmas tree tinsel faux evergreen reindeer snow become popular christmas light strung festoon tail star bethlehem belens star shape christmas tree angel large variety way going far draping whole outside house light despite philippine still retains traditional decoration every christmas season filipino home building adorned starshaped lantern called paról spanish farol meaning lantern lamp lantern represent star bethlehem guided magi also known three king tagalog tatlóng harì paról beloved iconic filipino christmas tree westerner common form lantern pointed star two tail lower two tip popular variation four eight tenpointed star rarer one sport six seven nine twelve point earliest paróls made simple material like bamboo japanese rice paper known papél de hapón crêpe paper lit candle coconut oil lamp simple paróls easily constructed ten bamboo stick paper glue presentday paról endless possible shape form made variety material cellophane plastic rope capiz shell glass even recycled refuse parólmaking folk craft many filipino child often craft school project leisure giant lantern festival annual festival held saturday christmas eve san fernando pampanga festival feature competition giant lantern popularity festival earned city moniker christmas capital philippine another traditional filipino christmas symbol belén—a creche tableau depicting birth christ derived spanish name bethlehem belén depicts infant jesus manger surrounded virgin mary st joseph shepherd flock magi stable animal surmounted angel star belén introduced spanish since th century ubiquitous iconic christmas symbol philippine par parol christmas lantern depicting star bethlehem often incorporated scene source illumination belén parol traditional christmas decoration filipino home american introduced christmas tree church philippine also transform altar belén christmas also found school also hold nativity play government building commercial establishment public space belén seen home church school even office building one office building extravagant using different material figure using christmas light parols star painted background scenery notable outdoor belén metro manila one used manila cod department store building avenida rizal manila store display relocated cubao quezon city belén transferred greenhills shopping center san juan cod building closed last known display greenhills held november january returning cubao time square park belén light sound presentation story narrated speaker set probably using automaton make figure move turn etc year company owning change theme nativity story variation fairground story santa claus journey tarlac city tarlac known belén capital philippine hold annual belenísmo sa tarlac belénmaking contest participated establishment resident tarlac giant version belén different theme displayed front establishment road tarlac entire season philippine child small group go house house singing christmas carol called pangangaroling makeshift instrument include tambourine made tansans aluminum bottle cap strung piece wire traditional chant namamasko po caroler wait expectantly homeowner reward coin afterward caroler thank generous homeowner singing thank thank ang babait ninyo kind thank example traditional filipino carol part series known maligayang pasko commonly called sa maybahay ang aming bati tradition carol stem long year spanish rule tradition practiced spanish latin america time year adopted suit philippine condition word heard repeatedly christmas season philippine presently term interpreted gift money received benefactor aguinaldo spanish term bonus prevalent use may originated filipino worker spanish era receiving extra pay generosity rich employer celebration christmas season several rice cake often sold outside church simbang gabi providing warm sweet treat early morning hour puto bumbong distinctive purple color come naturally sticky rice called “pirurutong” bibingka made rice flour coconut milk water poured clay pot lined banana leaf puto made mixing fermented rice yeast overnight create dough wrapped banana leaf steamed create small puffy rounded cake kutsinta looking like rounded piece toffee made steaming mix rice flour tapioca brown sugar lye colored yellow food coloring annatto tree extract song christmas heart released jose mari chan become famous song christmas philippine synonymous start christmas season often played home shopping mall radio station early september filipino philippine abroad countdown christmas gradually begin september reaching peak december concludes midnight december christmas eve december christmas day holy week philippine bernabe emma lapid virginia sibayan bonifacio march ilokano lesson university hawaiʻi press isbn retrieved august medium related christmas philippine wikimedia common christmas philippine travel guide wikivoyage