Four months of Christmas in the Philippines

“Pasko” is everything in the Philippines. It’s easy to tell, after all Christmas celebrations last four whole months here. Starting as early as September, the whole country tunes in to Christmas music and everything is beautifully decorated with colorful lights. Best of all: People wish each other “Merry Christmas” well into February. However, if you think Christmas is just an extended version of the commercialized celebration we’ve come to know here, you’re quite wrong. It’s a time of special tradition that Filipinos spend with their family, enjoying the precious moments together. Some, however, can’t make it home for the holidays and opt to support their family from afar instead. Send money to Philippines now - it is easy and safe with sendvalu’s online money transfer service.

Glowing Christmas traditions in the Philippines

Whether you’re from the Philippines or just visiting as a tourist, taking part in local Christmas traditions is definitely a yearly highlight. Especially the light show in Manila’s “Ayala Triangle Garden” is an unforgettable experience. Thousands of lanterns light up the trees in every conceivable color. Some even say that this spectacular display could definitely compete with New York’s iconic Christmas tree on Rockefeller Plaza.

“Ayala Triangle Garden”, however, isn’t the only place you can see beautiful illumination around the Philippines during this time. With the first of December “Parols,” traditional lanterns made of bamboo and paper, light up apartments, windows and even cars.
In many cities there are even competitions that try to find the most beautiful lantern on the Philippines. These lanterns aren’t small as one might expect, but are built as tall as four meters and usually stay on display until the 6th of January, or Three Kings Day. Spending this much on crafting supplies can get expensive. If you want to help your family in the Philippines win the competition this year, you can easily and safely send money to Philippines with sendvalu and support the tradition.

Of course there aren’t any Christmas trees in a tropical place like the Philippines, but this doesn’t halt the Christmas spirit in any way. Filipinos simply use artificial trees instead or go right ahead and decorate palm trees with fairy lights and baubles.
Even nativity scenes are on display, a tradition that goes back to St. Francis and was brought to the islands by Spanish missionaries. Of course, in a place with sandy beaches, you don’t get any snow. We think that that’s a holiday trade-off we’re willing to accept.

Merry Christmas celebrations in the Philippines

Traditionally, the Christmas season starts on the 16th of December, quite early in the morning. Between 3 and 4 AM the church bells ring and call parishioners to the first of nine “Simbáng Gabi” sermon, or “night sermon.” Churchgoers are greeted by festively illuminated food stands by the church. Simbang Gabi is never complete without native delicacies like “bibingka” and “puto bumbong” made from glutinous rice. After the sermon, people stay for an early breakfast of ricecake and ginger ale and watch the sunrise together. This particular custom is the only one with Filipino origins, which makes it all the more special. It is believed that those who make it to all nine morning sermons are granted a special wish. If you’d like to help out a family member who isn’t such an early bird, you can easily send money to Philippines with sendvalu’s safe and fast money transfer service.

There are more customs that mark the beginning of traditional christmas on the 16th of December. In the hopes of small gifts like candy or change, children go from house to house caroling or simply wishing their neighbors a Merry Christmas.

The lavish Christmas celebrations culminate on the 24th of December, the “Noche Buena”. For the whole night all doors are open to visitors and the city is transformed into a sea of lights. After Christmas mass people sit around a festively decorated table and share a meal. Family, friends, relatives, and neighbors all drop in and wish each other a „Maligayang Pasko!“ or “Merry Christmas” in Filipino. The buffet is filled with delicacies like suckling pig or the traditional Filipino dish Pancit. The traditional rice cakes called “Puto bumbong” are also quite special and unique. Made from violet colored rice and coconut, they are a sweet treat that everyone loves. Children sometimes receive their Christmas presents during “Noche Buena” or the morning after on Christmas day.

Either way, every child spends the morning of the 25th visiting close relatives. Besides of course grandparents, aunts and uncles, godfathers and mothers enjoy great status in the Philippines. Donning their best festive clothing, youngsters receive gifts of money and other items, when they honor their elders. This is done with a certain gesture called “mano.” The child takes the hand of the relative and brings it to his or her brow while bowing down. It’s a beautiful tradition that brings generations closer. If you’re not close to family you can of course send Christmas money via sendvalu. It’s an easy, safe and fast way to send money to Philippines.

On the evening of the 25th it’s completely quiet everywhere – an exception during the holiday season, that families use to sit at home, relaxing and reflecting on the festivities.

Christmas in Filipino: Celebrating into the new year

The time of quiet and relaxation doesn’t last long, however. In fact, there are quite a few traditions that follow the customary 24th and 25th celebrations we know elsewhere. The 28th of December for example is a day of jest and fun called “Niños inocentes.” This “Day of the Innocent” is meant to remind Filipinos of the story of Judea, who was able to flee Egypt, thwarting kind Herodes order to kill all newborn boys.

New Years Eve is of course another opportunity to see Parols and lights, though firecrackers definitely take center stage. Especially in more rural regions people celebrate loudly on the streets, creating an incredible amount of noise, which is meant to scare away ghosts and evil spirits. This way the new year can start in happiness and peace. Surprise someone early with a gift of cash that will certainly make this season a happy one. Send money to the Philippines with sendvalu - it is easy, cheaper than the banks and fast.

The first Sunday of the new year,“Tres Reyes”/”Tatlong Hari” or Three Kings Day, officially marks the end of Christmas. However, Filipinos love Christmas so much that many of them don’t stop wishing each other “Maligayang Pasko” until February.

This holiday season luckily is far from over and if you’d like to send a little gift to family and friends on the Philippines, sendvalu’s fast and secure money transfer is a great idea.