THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS IN THE PHILIPPINES


 In the Philippines, Christmas fills our hearts with joy, and the spirit of the season is a fusion of family customs, Christmas carol songs, and religions. It was heartfelt, and so was the way it helped me with some much needed holiday time. There’s plenty of cultural relevance attached to Christmas.


Every year, we simulate the event by combining Simbang Gabi with nightly sellouts at mass centers to introduce ourselves as true believers. I may have struggled by being out of my comfort zone with the early starts of 4:30 AM to 5:30 AM, but the faith within and community vibe felt amazing. The masses started at 5 AM followed by delectable bibingka and puto bumbong



We transformed our family home completely into a Christmas wonderland. Parols or Christmas lanterns replaced the dullness in every corner with dreams signified and both decorated and illuminated every room there was. To top it off, we hosted our annual – Noche Buena supper on Christmas Eve. Hamon, lechon, pancit, queso de bola, leche flan courtesy of Grandma, you name it, because we had it all. As the concepts of gift giving and story time intertwined with loads of laughter the night stretched on, not bothering to catch a break.


A family reunion that is significantly a hallmark of Christmas in the Philippines was vibrant as always. Karaoke and ‘Bring Me’ Were among the countless parlor games that were had and I will forever be grateful for all the relatives that I met during my trip. 


As for the my part, I ensured to soak in the beauty imbued during the season. I made sure to relish in the local christmas celebrations Cooking local christmas dishes



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