Pasko In The Philippines is a time of great joy for many–let’s look at it here in depth. If there is indeed a Mount Olympus, and if there are indeed infinite gods who really inhabit that mountain, they will be overwhelmed of the festivities in such a little country as Philippines and in this case Pasko In The Philippines. Three times that the booming of the noise of merriment can be heard.  The first one’s when the whole nation is cheered when the Filipino-Chinese beat their drums and sway their red, yellow, and green dragons to dance in tune of their music-filled clanging of cymbals and tambourines; and then the second one is the one which usually happens on the Muslims’ Eidl Fit’r, where almost everyone who practices Islam, especially those who reside in Mindanao, get out of their homes with their guns in hand, and pierce the air with the firing of empty bullets.

And then, there’s Pasko In The Philippines

Almost everybody in the country gets excited when the time of Pasko tolls near, getting really keyed up when August slowly ends as the time of Pasko comes hand-in-hand with the approaching month. For Pasko means giving and receiving gifts, seemingly-endless streaming food, Christmas carols, Christmas parties and family get-togethers.

Pasko is generally what the whole world would call Christmas, but would not normally practice like as it is done in the Philippines. This holiday of the Filipinos begins to be celebrated at the young days of September to the first week of next year’s January. Thus the country is known of its peculiar long Christmas celebration worldwide.

Songs During Pasko In The Philippines

As early as September, Christmas songs could already be heard from households booming their Jingle Bells from their karaoke to the little children with their home-made tambourines (flattened aluminum bottle caps strung together by a piece of wire). Other homes already have their Christmas lights out, and if not decorating the whole outside of a house, give glamour to their trees and gardens by their many twinkling fairy-like lights.

The iconic parol, likened to the star of Bethlehem, may also be already seen hanging on almost every house’s window, with one or two of its colorful tails cheering every onlooker. Almost every Filipino can make a parol, as it is not only a skill handed down from their ancient ancestry dating back from the Spanish times, but as it is a favorite tradition to make one, especially when Pasko is nigh. Belens, Spanish for Bethlehem, which is a model of the manger with Baby Jesus, Joseph, Mary, the shepherds and the angels, couch on almost every devout Filipino Catholic’s household.

Pasko In The Philippines Is A Lengthy Celebration

In its lengthy festivity, there are many activities that the Filipinos, and even tourists, enjoy. There are the numerous Christmas parties with tables groaning of abundant food imaginable; the Panunuluyan in which Joseph and Mary’s looking for a lodging in Bethlehem is re-enacted; the Christmas eve with its Noche Buena, when families get together and dine on foods such as the queso de bola (ball of edam cheese), the relleno and hamon, and when some even open gifts; the Niños Inocentes, an equivalent of America’s April Fool’s Day; and the Tatlong Hari (Three Kings Day). But the highlights of all in which just about every Filipino relish, are the Misa de Gallo, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve.

Misa de Gallo is the Spanish term for the Filipino’s Simbang Gabi, which literally means Night Mass. This is a series of novenas done starting at the dawn of the official Christmas ceremony in the country, specifically at the 16th of December, to its 24th. For the firm Filipino Roman Catholic, this is an important tradition which meant waking up and attending masses as early as 3 a.m. and 8 o’clock in the evening; as this would show devotion to God and as well as heighten the anticipation of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. A complete attendance of these nine masses assures the Filipino Catholic believer, a grant of a single wish.

The traditional Filipino holiday fares are usually sold outside the parishes, giving a satisfied stomach to those church goers who have hastily gone to church and didn’t get any meal at home. Varieties of food delicacies like puto, palitaw, bibingka (rice delicacy cooked with coals above and beneath it), and puto bumbong (a purple, sticky, buttered rice floured steamed in bamboo tubes and then are sprinkled with brown sugar and dried coconut meat), and biko (brown, sticky rice delight) are offered in the stalls of the side-walk vendors.  Hot drinks, like chocolate and ginger, which are also called pampainit, are given away along with the purchase of food.

Christmas Day on the other hand, is usually a delight to children, especially with those who are fortunate of having ninongs and ninangs (godparents). These unfortunate (as what they call themselves after having so many godchildren) godparents, after being paid with respect by the young children by visiting their homes, are socially obligated to give aguinaldos to the little ones.  This meant crisp money, just-fresh-from-the-bank bills into the eager hands of their god children. But all in all, the regret is further erased as the big ones savor with the companionship of one another.

Now despite of the government’s annual appeal to its citizens of not using firecrackers, New Year is still greeted with the Filipino’s stubborn way of partying. Even before the stroke of the midnight, the streets are already filled with the smoke, the flashes of light, and the noise of the crackling fires of Judas’ belt, Super Lolo, triangles and watusis which subjected many-a-Filipino’s hand beyond recognition. This tradition though is strengthened of the belief that with the noise that they’re making, spiteful spirits will go away.

On the other hand, there are also safer traditions that are being practiced, though some are still not short of the ridiculousness of the use of fire crackers. Children are instructed to jump exactly at the stroke of midnight to get taller; wearing red and polka dots for good fortune and money; displaying 12 circular different kinds of fruit for prosperity in each of the 12 months of the new year, and then eating them; making of bamboo canons, and clanging pans and blowing horns to drive away bad spirits.

Seeing the people celebrate such peculiarities and exaggerated festivals may seem overwhelming. But taking delight with the Filipino festivities is another matter. As here, one appreciates another form of happiness and pleasure that happens for nearly a half of a year. In just but a short time of a year, but for a long while, one can be grateful for the happiness of giving and receiving gifts, and being able to make a belen or a parol. In just but a short time of a year, but for a long while, one can be thankful for the experience of pleasure with the ones who are happy to be along with them while seeing the sunsets before a Misa de Gallo, eating the salty-sweet taste of queso de bola at Noche Buena, and witnessing the fireworks of New Year.