Christmas in the Philippines

Christmas season begins for most Filipinos when Start September ” month starts until Christmas Eve. Christmas spirit can be felt everywhere.  Approximately, Filipinos are 90% Christians and 80% of that Catholic. This is one of the oldest Christmas traditions in the Philippines. Filipinos flock to the Catholic church to attend a 9~ day Pre-dawn mass or commonly known as “SIMBANG GABI ”.  People wake up at dawn and go to church to attend the 1-hour church service that usually begins at 4 am. On  Christmas Eve, they usually held the church service in the evening. The Simbang Gabi is a way of thanksgiving, worship,  simply to fulfilling someone’s wish come true. Some Filipinos believe that if you completed the 9-day church service, your ultimate wish might come true :)



 Indeed! Filipinos are always very creative that they even design parols on their own. Parols are graced with various designs, colors, sizes, lights and prices. It is a traditional symbol of Christmas spirits in the Philippines, and each house has one or more parols hanging whichever spot is visible. It is like a star shining brightly in one’s home. Christmas is for children and it’s a very important event that they’ve been waiting for:)  Philippines during Christmas season you might seen  children singing a carol song. In the Philippines, children and their friends find ways to entertain their neighbors in the way of singing any Christmas songs with or without any special musical instrument in hand or nice clothes but a voice talent plus a combination of some dance moves, in a return of the small amount of money as gratitude.
One of favorite  cuisine that can always be at the table of Filipino families, that is the lechon. A lechon is a pork roasted dish cooked over charcoal. In most regions, lechon is prepared and served throughout the year on special occasions such as wedding or birthday party, Christmas, New Year, Filipino families also serve different kinds of foods such as buko salad or coconut salad mixed with fruits, spaghetti, barbecue :)

Gift opening and exchange gifts 

On the 24th of December or Christmas Eve, like other families around the world, Filipino families love opening presents given to them by their love ones. Gifts can be  anything, clothes, shoes, accessories, But  they prepared  cash :)! Filipinos are very appreciative, so whatever you give them, they’d be more than grateful.
 
 Filipinos love Christmas sale; most shopping malls offer a pre-Christmas sale of some items. Christmas decorations as well are glamorous and dazzling. Big balls and a giant Christmas tree are consistently striking in the eye.Philipines has many big and wide shopping malls. . Streets are widely fancy decorated and colorful Christmas decorations. During this season, people go to these places to go shopping as a way of preparing and buying presents. In this season, most shopping malls are crowded and covered with massive Christmas decorations that attract shoppers :)!