Christmas in Philippines

Christmas in Philippines falls on December 25, with the season often starting as early as September.

Simbang Gabi is a series of nine dawn masses held from December 16 to 24, culminating in the Christmas Eve Misa de Aguinaldo. The Cultural Center of the Philippines describes it as both a spiritual journey and a convergence of culture, devotion and artistic expression. Parol lanterns and other handmade Christmas decorations light up streets and parks, and the Giant Lantern Festival in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, locally known as Ligligan Parul, is an annual lantern-making contest that earned the city its tag as Christmas Capital of the Philippines.

Simbang Gabi is traditionally paired with puto bumbong and bibingka. For Noche Buena, families gather around the table when the clock strikes midnight on December 24, and the Department of Trade and Industry's annual Noche Buena price guide covers staples such as ham, queso de bola, cheese, fruit cocktail, sandwich spread, all-purpose cream and pasta or spaghetti sauce.

Children say Namamasko po and, especially in the provinces, go from house to house to receive a gift or money from their ninong and ninang, kissing their godparents' hands before receiving the aguinaldo. Gift-giving continues today, increasingly through online wallets and QR codes.

The festive figure most associated with Christmas in Philippines is Gift-giving in the sources used is family and godparent based rather than tied to one figure.

A giant lantern in San Fernando's festival stands about 20 feet tall and is made from thousands of coloured bulbs, with their dancing lights driven manually by a Kapampangan innovation called a rotor.

For the rituals, dishes and gift bringers in other countries, browse our Christmas around the world hub, compare customs side by side in the Christmas Traditions Explorer or plan your own December with the Christmas checklist.