In the Philippines, if there’s a celebration that moves and makes happy kids, young and old, it is Christmas. It’s a joyful and heartwarming moment. The Christmas season begins in September and continues until its end. For me, who was accustomed to hearing about Christmas only in December, it was a big surprise in the sense that the Philippines has such a long Christmas season. Christmas, in the Philippines, is special in that it is filled with religious celebrations and customs.
When the first day of September comes, Filipinos start to look forward to the best time of the year, which is Christmas. Houses, malls, buildings, and streets are festooned with Christmas lanterns, Christmas trees, and twinkling lights. Since Filipinos are known for their love for music, for them, celebrating Christmas is also enjoying Christmas carols performed by kids, youth, and old people. They sing their favorite Christmas carols and use their musical instruments, like maracas made with tins or soft drink caps. In my country, Christmas celebrations is mostly for children. Adult people just wait for the celebration of the New Year. But in the Philippines, it is the opposite. The spirit of Christmas moves everyone. Whether you are a foreigner or not, when the holidays approach, you feel it.
Sense of Community and Family
Celebrating Christmas in the Philippines is also a merry moment for family get-togethers. Family members or some groups share food, sing, and exchange gifts. This crucial moment of the year is a time of consolidating friendship for some groups and love for the members of the same family. Christmas is a time where families, friends, and loved ones reunite. For kids, it is one of their most-awaited times for their gifts. Besides, it’s a moment where people are moving around in their cars for celebration, which causes too much traffic in the roads. I can’t talk about celebrating Christmas in the Philippines without talking about Simbang Gabi, one of the Filipino religious customs. Simbang Gabi is a tradition in which Filipinos attend a nine-day series of masses in preparation for Christmas. It starts from the 16th of December until Christmas Eve. There is a saying that if you complete the nine days of Simbang Gabi, you will have your wish granted. During that time, you can easily see the spirit of community because all the people from different generations take part in those Novena Masses.
But more than just a celebration, let us be reminded that the true meaning of Christmas lies in the recognition of Jesus as the prince of peace, the one who is coming to save us. Without this point, all celebrations are useless because Jesus is the one who gives meaning to all that we do from the perspective of Christmas. As this is my second time celebrating Christmas in the Philippines, the Christmas season this year seems to be different. Last year, there was an affluence of people in the Novena Masses that I didn’t see this year. Regarding the mood of the people while going around, the spirit of Christmas was more perceptible than last year. On the eve of Christmas solemnity, let us have fun and enjoy the gifts of love, peace, and hope that come from the baby Jesus.
