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Parols and Christmas lights on display at night. The parol is regarded to be one of the most iconic and important symbols of the Filipino Christmas season. In Filipino and most Philippine languages, the word Paskó commonly refers to Christmas. The celebrations of Christmas in the Philippines have deep influences of Catholicism, tracing their roots back to Spanish colonial rule from 1521 to 1898. Currently, the Philippines holds the longest running festivity of the Christmas season in the world, which begins on September 1. The various ethnic groups in the Philippines each observe different Christmas traditions, and the following are generally common. PST, while in some parishes, some churches and others, anticipated Masses begin the previous evening at 20:00 PST or as early as 17:00 or as late as 21:00 PST.

In different provinces and schools, the journey of Joseph and the pregnant Virgin Mary in search of lodging is re-enacted. The pageant, traditionally called the “Panunulúyan”, “Pananawágan”, or “Pananapátan”, is modeled after the Spanish Las Posadas. The Panunulúyan is performed after dark, with the actors portraying Joseph and the Virgin Mary going to pre-designated houses. The owners then cruelly turn them away, sometimes also in song, saying that their house is already filled with other guests.

Finally, Joseph and Mary make their way to the parish church where a replica of the stable has been set up. Misa de Gallo is when Filipinos form groups and go from house to house singing Christmas carols for the residents. This is known as “caroling”, just as in the U. They creatively in use recyclable materials to make makeshift instruments like drums and tambourines.

Christmas Day in the Philippines is primarily a family affair. Preferably in the morning, Filipinos typically visit their extended family, especially to pay their respects to senior relatives. This custom of giving respect is enacted through the “Págmamáno”. A festive lunch may follow the “Págmamáno”. The menu is heavily dependent upon the finances of the family with richer families preparing grand feasts, while poorer families choose to cook simple yet special dishes. Some families choose to open presents on this day after the lunch. When nighttime falls, members of the family usually return home or linger to drink, play parlor games, and chat.

Some may opt to have another feast for dinner, while a minority spend the entire day at home to rest after the previous days’ festivities. Holy Innocents’ Day or Childermas is commemorated on December 28 as Niños Inocentes. Filipinos once celebrated the day by playing practical jokes on one another, similar to April Fool’s Day. Filipino families gather for the Media Noche a lavish midnight feast that supposedly symbolizes their hopes for prosperity in the coming year, and lasts until the following morning as with the Noche Buena taken on Christmas Eve.

Filipinos make noise both to greet the New Year and in the belief that the din exorcises their surroundings of malevolent spirits. A dying tradition is the Hispanic custom of children leaving their shoes out by the window or the door, so that the Three Kings can leave small gifts like candy or money inside upon their descent on Twelfth Night. The Black Nazarene, whose devotees are primarily centered in Manila and Cagayan de Oro, is borne in procession on January 9 after a novena in its honor. The image depiction most associated with this day is the purportedly miraculous Santo Niño de Cebú, the first Christian icon brought to the islands. Christmas lasted until Candlemas, or the Feast of the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of the Baby Jesus at the Temple. This marked the end of a long 40-day “Christmastide” corresponding to the 40 days of Lent.