a filipino christmas celebration

Life is all about the company you keep and the lasting friendships along the way.   We have been lucky enough to have some very special friends that have been with us through highs and lows and lasted through the test of time.
 
We met when during when our sons started their first day of kindergarten.  The boys became fast friends  and the rest is history!  Our friends are Filipino and we have enjoyed hearing about and experiencing their culture through countless dinners,  social gatherings, travels together and sunset chats.  
 
This newsletter features Filipino Christmas traditions.  It's an all encompassing, beautiful season in the Philippines and we have loved learning about it.  There are so many different influences on the celebrations and it's been fun to make connections throughout the learning process.  
​- Cindy -

destination of the week
christmas in the philippines

Christmas in the Philippines is known worldwide for being the longest-running celebration for Christmas in the world.  The Philippines, during Christmas,  converts itself into a wonderland, becoming one of the biggest tourist attractions around the world for Christmas celebrations. One of the Christmas traditions in the Philippines has Christmas preparations beginning during September.
 
Called the “Ber Months”, Filipinos start their Christmas spirit at the beginning  of September, and the celebrations run till the first Sunday of January when they celebrate the Feast of the Three Kings.  The country’s citizens are mostly Christians, with more than 80% of the Catholic, which makes Christmas the most important festival of the year in the whole country. 
 
Traditional Filipino Christmas decorations are popular for their colorful and unique designs. They usually have a lot of lights and ornaments. Some people also use traditional Filipino decorations like the "parol," a star-shaped lantern made out of bamboo sticks and paper. 
Every year, local communities hold parol contests to find the best parol Christmas lantern of the season. One such event is the yearly Giant Lantern Festival in Pampanga, which gathers diverse craftsmen nationwide.
The Christmas Eve feast or Filipino Noche Buena traditionally begins at midnight and continues far into Christmas morning. It is one of the highlights of the Filipino Christmas celebration as it brings together the family enjoying sumptuous holiday foods.
 
Simbang Gabi is one of the longest running traditions in the country. Simbang Gabi is a nine-day running mass starting from 16th December for worship and prayer. Completing this mass is one of the most authentic cultural experiences you can get.  It is done to honor the Virgin Mary and the farmers who worked in the country during the Spanish colonization of the country. The farmers worked very early in the morning to avoid the heat of the sun at noon. The masses respect that by starting early in the morning every nine days and it is said that people who complete this get one wish granted to them.
 
Filipinos sing Christmas carols during Simbang Gabi to add to the festive mood. They often visit neighbors' homes during this time and exchange small gifts. Residents may open their doors and hand over money, food, or other gifts or shout "patawad" if they have nothing to give.
Traditional Filipino Christmas carols include English songs like Silent Night, O Holy Night, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. However, original Filipino Christmas songs like Ang Pasko ay Sumapit, and Sa Maybahay ang Aming Bati are sure hits.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines

travel tip of the week
look for a parol lantern

A Parol is a unique Christmas decoration introduced by the Spaniards. It means lantern in Spanish, a representation of the biblical bright star that embodies light during times of darkness. A parol was originally star-shaped and made of bamboo with Japanese or crepe paper and coconut oil used to light it. The making of parol has evolved and now, you see different styles exquisitely constructed and displayed.

virtual vacation of the week

​Filipinos love to party and Christmas gives them the best excuse. The malls are all decked up by the beginning of October to draw in the crowds and music is in the air. 
Video by Singapore City Walks and found on YouTube

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