Christmas Day in Philippines
Christmas Day is a holiday in Philippines.
When is Christmas Day in Philippines
Christmas Day is celebrated on 25, December, 2023 in Philippines.
About Christmas Day in Philippines
Christmas Day is one of the most important holidays in the Philippines, which is predominantly a Catholic country. It is celebrated on December 25th every year and marks the birth of Jesus Christ. The holiday is a time for families to come together, attend church services, exchange gifts, and enjoy special meals.
Leading up to Christmas Day, Filipinos celebrate the “Simbang Gabi” or “Misa de Gallo,” which is a series of nine early morning masses starting on December 16th and ending on Christmas Eve. After the last mass, families gather for a midnight feast called “Noche Buena” where they eat traditional Filipino dishes like lechon (roast pig), bibingka (rice cake), and puto bumbong (purple rice cake).
On Christmas Day, families attend morning mass and then spend the day together, often exchanging gifts and enjoying a special meal. Many people also participate in “caroling,” where groups of children and adults go from house to house singing Christmas carols and receiving small gifts or money in return.
Overall, Christmas Day in the Philippines is a time for joy, togetherness, and celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
History of Christmas Day in Philippines
The Philippines is a predominantly Christian country, with the majority of the population being Roman Catholic. As such, Christmas is a highly celebrated holiday in the country.
The celebration of Christmas in the Philippines can be traced back to the arrival of the Spanish colonizers in the 16th century. The Spaniards brought with them their Christian beliefs and traditions, including the celebration of Christmas.
The first recorded Christmas celebration in the Philippines was in 1571, when the Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi held a Christmas Mass in Cebu. From then on, Christmas became an important religious and cultural event in the country.
During the Spanish colonial period, Christmas was celebrated with religious processions, novenas, and the Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo (Rooster’s Mass), which is a nine-day series of early morning Masses leading up to Christmas Day. This tradition is still observed in the Philippines today.
After the Philippines gained independence from Spain in 1898, the celebration of Christmas continued to evolve. New traditions were introduced, such as the parol (a star-shaped lantern made of bamboo and paper), Christmas caroling, and the noche buena (Christmas Eve feast).
Today, Christmas is the most important holiday in the Philippines. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy, with families and friends gathering together to share food, exchange gifts, and attend Mass. The holiday season in the Philippines starts as early as September, with Christmas decorations and carols being played in malls and on the streets. The festive atmosphere continues until the Feast of the Three Kings on January 6, which marks the end of the Christmas season.
How is Christmas Day celebrated in Philippines
Christmas Day is a very important holiday in the Philippines and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy. Here are some of the ways in which Christmas Day is celebrated in the Philippines:
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Attending Mass: The majority of Filipinos are Catholic, and attending mass on Christmas Day is an important part of the celebration. Many families attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve, known as Simbang Gabi, and then attend mass again on Christmas Day.
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Christmas Feasts: Christmas is a time for family gatherings and feasting. Many families prepare special dishes such as lechon (roast pig), ham, and fruit salad. Some families also prepare traditional Filipino dishes such as bibingka (rice cake) and puto bumbong (purple rice cake).
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Gift-Giving: Like in many other countries, gift-giving is a big part of Christmas in the Philippines. Children often receive gifts from their parents and godparents, and adults exchange gifts with family and friends.
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Christmas Carols: Filipinos love to sing Christmas carols, and it is a common sight to see groups of carolers going from house to house singing traditional Christmas songs.
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Parol: The parol is a traditional Filipino lantern made from bamboo and paper. It is a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem and is hung outside homes and buildings during Christmas time.
Overall, Christmas Day in the Philippines is a time for family, food, and celebration. It is a time for reflecting on the birth of Jesus and spreading joy and goodwill to others.
Dates
Christmas Day will be celebrated in Philippines on 2023-12-25 2024-12-25 2025-12-25 2026-12-25 2027-12-25 in the comming years.
