【講師コラム】マデル講師No.21～Filipino Festivities: A Merry Christmas Blend of Family, Food, and Faith～

Good day, everyone! It’s me again, Teacher Madel, for today’s Englishbuds instructor’s blog entry. Christmas is just around the corner… I guess our Englishbuds Mommies and Daddies are already thinking of ways on how you would make this year’s Christmas memorable for your precious little ones… Oh, and speaking of Christmas, today I am excited to share how Filipinos celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas day!!!

Christmas in the Philippines is brimming with customs and celebrations. But these are not merely colorful traditions. Filipino Christmas means feasts, lights, and a laughter with your family and friends. A Filipino Christmas starts around  September and ends in  January. Why? Well, we don’t really celebrate Halloween. The spookiest holiday is a Western tradition and while there may be a few parties, it’s not that big of a deal in my country.

CHRISTMAS SONGS

By September 1, you would likely hear Christmas songs on the radio blasting in the neighborhood, public vehicles, malls, hotels, restaurants, and other establishments. The most famous song you’ll hear is “Christmas In Our Hearts” by Filipino singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan. If you look up the lyrics, the song already encapsulates the traditions and spirit of Filipino Christmas.

CHRISTMAS DECORS

 By October, all the Christmas decorations are up already. Filipinos love to set up and spread the joyful Christmas mood with ornaments. Golden bells, shiny star lanterns, and glittery red and green decors are everywhere in the country. Some provinces take their Christmas decorations to the next level and create decors out of their local products, such as those made from bamboo, indigenous materials, and recycled products. Malls also put up their grandest Christmas displays inside or outside their buildings. 

GIFT GIVING

Gift-giving can be wrapped with humor. Monito Monita, which is similar to Secret Santa, refers to a series of exchanging gifts among groups of friends, classmates, or officemates. It may happen weekly or depends on what the group will agree on. Participants will draw the name of the person who must receive a gift from them every gift-giving session. The name must not be revealed until the final session. There will be a price limit and a theme for gifts that will be announced ahead of each session. Examples of themes are “something sweet”, “something soft and cuddly”, “something useful”, and “something you can find in the bathroom.” It sounds super exciting and fun, right, Mommies and Daddies?

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

Caroling is a popular Christmas tradition in the Philippines. Carolers travel from house to house at night and sing their favorite Christmas tunes. Carolers are usually groups of children using handmade or toy musical instruments, like maracas, tambourines, and drums made of tins. After giving them money as a reward for singing, the house owner will receive a “thank you” in the form of a song as well.

SIMBANG GABI

If you’ll participate in Simbang Gabi, or Night Mass, bring out your sweater as you will feel the December breeze when you head to the church early in the morning. Simbang Gabi is a tradition wherein Filipinos attend nine consecutive masses in anticipation of Christmas. This is held from December 16 to 24 and takes place as early as 3 AM or 5 AM.  The last day of Simbang Gabi is Christmas Eve, and it is called Misa de Gallo. After Simbang Gabi, ⁹mass-goers would buy puto bumbong (a purple rice cake cooked inside a bamboo tube) and bibingka (rice cake cooked in clay pots) from stalls around the church.

NOCHE BUENA

Noche Buena is the meal Filipinos eat on Christmas eve after the midnight mass. The most common dishes found on a Filipino Noche Buena table are Spaghetti, Morcon (a slice of beef wrapped around ham, cheese, hotdog, bacon and dipped in tasty stock and tomato sauce), relyenong bangus (stuffed milkfish), sweet ham, Queso de Bola, and fruit salad. Aside from filling your belly with food, you’ll experience the warmth and meaningful time shared by the family and closest loved ones during the meal.

FAMILY BONDING

On the morning of Christmas Day, December 25, children will open their gifts under their Christmas tree. You better prepare a lot of coins or snacks because there will be children from your neighborhood, your godchildren, or relatives, in their best clothes, who will call your attention in front of your door with the phrase “Namamasko po!” This means it is time for you to give them your “Aguinaldo” or gifts. On this day, families, friends, relatives and neighbors gather to enjoy food, sing karaoke, play games, and take a lot of pictures together!

To sum it up, I think Christmas in the Philippines revolves around three things; Family, Food and Faith. These 3 F’s make up our identities as Filipinos. Thank you so very much, Mommies and Daddies for taking time to read my entry. And advance Merry Christmas to you all! Oh, and Happiest New Year to everyone!!! Thank you all for being a part of my amazing 2023!!! May 2024 fill our lives with peace, happiness, kindness, and love…