Top 6 Filipino Christmas Traditions 2017 Christmas wouldn’t be the same without observing these Filipino traditions.
by: Arrah Camillia Quistadio-Manticajon SHARE this ARTICLE
Now that we’re in the thick of the holiday season, we look forward to engaging in activities that we just can’t do on other times of the year. Whether done alone or with family and friends, observing these traditions lets us keep the Christmas spirit alive. Last week, we asked our readers for their favorite Filipino Christmas traditions. Check out our list below to find out which activity took the top spot.
6. Christmas rush
One can expect the malls to be crowded at this time of the year. We start off our countdown with Christmas rush, which readers voted at number six. While it’s not strictly a tradition, the Christmas rush is something that Filipinos have gotten used to. With holiday mall sales left and right, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the holiday frenzy. Add to that last-minute gift shopping, Noche Buena grocery shopping, and the holiday traffic, and you’ll find yourself in a situation that can test anyone’s patience. One way to avoid the holiday rush is to plan for Christmas as early as September. Instead of shopping at brick-and-mortar stores, you can resort to online shopping, too. Just make sure to use the necessary precautions to avoid credit card fraud. Read Last-Minute Christmas Shopping at Metro Manila’s Weekend Markets
5. Monito monita
Christmas is in the air at the workplace too when there’s monito monita. Another Christmas tradition is monito monita, which is the Filipino version of Kris Kringle or Secret Santa. Also known as exchanging gifts, it involves giving a schoolmate or officemate a gift based on a weekly theme which everyone agrees on. For example, gifts could be something sweet or something long for a given week. The identity of the gift giver and recipient would then be revealed at the school or office Christmas party. The grandest or most valuable gift is also given at this time.
4. Carolling
Adorable little ones sing Christmas carols in holiday costumes. (Image: Butchard Dodoso) The Filipinos’ penchant for singing extends to the holidays. It comes as no surprise then that carolling ranked number four in our survey. You know it’s already Christmas when you hear carollers sing “Ang Pasko ay sumapit” which translates to “Christmas has come.” At this time of the year, carollers go from house to house to regale homeowners with songs of Christmas cheer. In return, they are given money or loose change. Kids can join in the fun, too. Aside from using their singing prowess, they sometimes use musical instruments which are improvised or made out of recycled materials.
3. Simbang Gabi
Simbang Gabi reminds people of the religious aspect of Christmas. If there is one tradition that Filipinos have kept alive from our Spanish colonizers, it would be Simbang Gabi (Dawn Mass). Religious missionaries introduced the practice to Filipinos in 1668. Masses then were forbidden to be performed during night time so instead priests celebrated them at dawn. The time was also convenient for farmers or fishermen, as it allowed them to hear mass before going to work. Today, Simbang Gabi offers churchgoers not only the chance to reflect on the meaning of Christmas. It also gives them an avenue to socialize with others, or enjoy seasonal food like bibingka and puto bumbong.
2. Noche Buena
Food is abundant at the Noche Buena table. Noche Buena or the Christmas Eve feast is the second most favorite holiday tradition, according to ShoppersGuide readers. Literally meaning “night of goodness,� the dinner table is filled with perennial holiday favorites like ham, queso de bola, and fruit salad for the occasion. The tradition traces its origins way to the 16th century. Back then, churchgoers were required to fast until Christmas morning by the Spanish friars. Since they became hungry after hearing midnight mass, Filipinos came up with the idea of having an evening feast before going back to sleep. Read 9 Supermarkets for your Noche Buena Grocery Shopping
1. Christmas reunions and parties
‘Tis the season for office parties. The holiday season is best enjoyed in the company of family and friends. That’s why the top spot in our survey goes to Christmas reunions and parties. Come the first or second week of December, schools, offices, and organizations celebrate the season by throwing a Christmas party. Aside from food, you can expect parlor games and song and dance numbers to be part of the program. Christmas is also the time when family members or relatives from abroad come home. Since the month has a string of non-working holidays, family reunions are commonly held at this time of the year. Did your favorite Christmas tradition make it to the list? Let us know in the comments section below!