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"Make it a December to remember" (Philippines Christmas tradition)
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items Christmas in the Philippines is a big deal. Unlike in most other parts of the world, Filipinos begin celebrating Christmas in September. The “ber” months, as they are called, herald the start of the Christmas season with traditional lanterns being ma...
Build a Belen A Belen is a nativity scene. As many Filipinos are Catholic, the Christian nativity story is a core part of the Christmas celebrations. Intricate sets are created from porcelain or even recycled material. The key setup consists of baby ...
340 Best belén ideas in 2023 | fairy garden diy ...
Parols All over the world Christmas lights are a staple of the festive season. But Filipinos have taken it one step further. A huge, brightly lit star, or Parol, can be found in houses and shops across the country. They were originally designed to li...
The Parol: All About This Uniquely Filipino Christmas Décor
Simbang Gabi Simbang Gabi is a series of late-night masses held in the nine days running up to Christmas. The last, and main one, is on Christmas Eve, the 24th of December. It begins very late at night, running into the small hours of Christmas Day m...
Simbang Gabi: An enduring Filipino Christmas tradition
Manito-Manita Gift-giving with a twist is a favourite Filipino Christmas tradition. Simply giving a gift to your Manito or Manita is way too boring. You have to present the gift to everyone assembled, who will then try to guess what's inside. Once th...
A Filipino Christmas Tradition: Monito Monita Gift Exchange
The red envelope or ang pao “Aunties” and grandparents gift children money over the Christmas period in either red or blue envelopes. These envelopes are created especially for this, and are called “ang pao”. If you get a big blue one, then you need ...
Hongbao (Red Envelope) - Journey to the West: Lunar New Year (2016)
Coming home for Christmas Many family members work overseas in order to support their loved ones. During Christmas they travel home, and it's often the only time of the year that families get to be together.
Coming Home for Christmas
Carols are a big Christmas tradition in the Philippines. They often take on a humorous aspect, with homemade costumes and instruments made from recycling. Lyrics are changed from familiar to funny, and the practice often begins as early as mid-Decemb...
Expats' Guide to Christmas Caroling in the Philippines
Misa de Gallo is the climax to the nine midnight masses in the lead-up to Christmas Eve. It usually centers around the birth of Jesus and involves lots of lights, candles, projector shows, and possibly a re-enactment of the birth. The belief goes th...
History of Misa de Gallo in the Philippines
Noche Buena is the Christmas Eve meal held after Misa de Gallo. The lavish feast is held to welcome in Christmas Day with many people waking up to attend it. Huge amounts of food are prepared together with, the actual feat of cooking the meal being a...
How These Families Celebrate Noche Buena
Discovering what Philippines eat for Christmas is to explore a range of meals - from noodles to spring rolls, to Buko salad. No matter what is being served, however, cooking the meal is a labour of love carried out by the whole family. Sometimes it's...
Top 20 Filipino Christmas Foods (+ Easy Holiday Recipes)
Gifts or presents are a big part of Filipino Christmas. Shops begin to sell gifts as early as November, reminding everyone to pick up something shiny for their loved ones. The most widely bought gifts are clothing and footwear - both designer and mor...
Giving gifts is not just a simple exchange either. When you give a present to your “Manito” or “Manita”, you need to let everyone around you spend some time guessing what it is. Boxes are closely examined, shaken gently, and finally opened. When yo...
Giving gifts is not just a simple exchange either. When you give a present to your “Manito” or “Manita”, you need to let everyone around you spend some time guessing what it is. Boxes are closely examined, shaken gently, and finally opened. When yo...
Unique Philippines' Christmas Gift Ideas 2023
Carolling and Christmas songs in the Philippines are a big part of the festive season. There are a number of familiar carols, as well as some more traditional ones.
Ultimate List of Filipino Christmas Songs
There are several ways to say Merry Christmas in the Philippines. The country has eight major languages, and every one has a special season greeting:
In Tagalog: “Maligayang Pasko”
In Llocano: “Naragsak nga Paskua”
in Ilonggo: “Malipayon nga Pascua”
In Sugbuhanon or Cebuano: “Maayong Pasko”
In Bicolano: “Maugmang Pasko”
In Angalatok or Pangasinense: “Maabig ya pasko” or “Magayagan inkianac”
In Waray: “Maupay Nga Pasko”.
There are many things that make Christmas in the Philippines unique. Their four-month-long celebration, the love of shopping, bright lights, and delicious foods are just a part of it. The best place to spend Christmas in the Philippines is pretty m...
In Tagalog: “Maligayang Pasko”
In Llocano: “Naragsak nga Paskua”
in Ilonggo: “Malipayon nga Pascua”
In Sugbuhanon or Cebuano: “Maayong Pasko”
In Bicolano: “Maugmang Pasko”
In Angalatok or Pangasinense: “Maabig ya pasko” or “Magayagan inkianac”
In Waray: “Maupay Nga Pasko”.
There are many things that make Christmas in the Philippines unique. Their four-month-long celebration, the love of shopping, bright lights, and delicious foods are just a part of it. The best place to spend Christmas in the Philippines is pretty m...
How to Say 'Merry Christmas' in Filipino
Lechon: Slow roast pig served with crispy crackling, and stuffed with peppers, pineapple, chilies, ginger, and lemongrass. Dipping sauces accompany it on the side.
Bibingka: A sweet and sticky coconut rice cake often served by street vendors around Christmas time. It's cooked in a clay pot and eaten in your hands.
Pinoy-style spaghetti: Sweet-style noodles with cut-up hotdogs and ground beef. Smothered in a sauce made from banana ketchup, sugar, and tomato paste.
Embutido: Ground pork meatloaf with veggies, cheese, and raisins. It is stuffed with hard-boiled eggs, more raisins, ham, and cut-up hot dogs. This is often served as a dish at Noche Bueno.
Lumpiang ubod: Filipino spring rolls made for sharing. They are stuffed with shrimp, heart-of-palm, veggies, coconut, and pork. Various dipping sauces are served on the side.
Buko Salad: A very sweet fruit salad made with shredded coconut, various fruits, jelly, sweets, tapioca, and sugar palm, and topped with condensed milk and cream.
Leche flan: Similar to creme caramel in western countries, this flan is made with cooked condensed milk and caramel, and served cool.
Puto bumbong: Another rice cake, but this time served in the home for Noche Buena. The purple-coloured dessert is made with steamed glutinous rice and cooked in a bamboo pole. Warm butter, grated coconut, and brown sugar are spooned on top, and the...
Bibingka: A sweet and sticky coconut rice cake often served by street vendors around Christmas time. It's cooked in a clay pot and eaten in your hands.
Pinoy-style spaghetti: Sweet-style noodles with cut-up hotdogs and ground beef. Smothered in a sauce made from banana ketchup, sugar, and tomato paste.
Embutido: Ground pork meatloaf with veggies, cheese, and raisins. It is stuffed with hard-boiled eggs, more raisins, ham, and cut-up hot dogs. This is often served as a dish at Noche Bueno.
Lumpiang ubod: Filipino spring rolls made for sharing. They are stuffed with shrimp, heart-of-palm, veggies, coconut, and pork. Various dipping sauces are served on the side.
Buko Salad: A very sweet fruit salad made with shredded coconut, various fruits, jelly, sweets, tapioca, and sugar palm, and topped with condensed milk and cream.
Leche flan: Similar to creme caramel in western countries, this flan is made with cooked condensed milk and caramel, and served cool.
Puto bumbong: Another rice cake, but this time served in the home for Noche Buena. The purple-coloured dessert is made with steamed glutinous rice and cooked in a bamboo pole. Warm butter, grated coconut, and brown sugar are spooned on top, and the...
Traditional Filipino Christmas Foods for the Holidays - Instacart
The whole Christmas season in the Philippines is finished off with another big feast called the “Epiphany”, or the Feast of Three Kings. Held on January 6 or the first Sunday in January, it celebrates the three wise men who travel to see Jesus in the...
Feast of the Three Kings caps long Christmas season in ...