Christmas Stories: Christmas in the Philippines is Best Shared with the Family

When malls are flooded and people are in a rush; when Christmas lights and lanterns hang in every house; when you feel the cool air caressing you; then Christmas is almost near. Here in our country, a typical family would wake up very early in the morning to attend nine days of mass before Christmas. The belief is that when one completes the nine days of mass before Christmas, or locally known as the "Simbang Gabi," his/her wish will be granted. I tried it last year and I proved that it is true, which makes that Christmas one of the most memorable.

I was in my fourth year of high school then, and I took the entrance examination in the most prestigious university here in our country. I wanted to pass badly, and because of that, I tried really hard to complete the nine days of masses, even if it I have to wake up at 3 in the morning and walk to church. It was a different feeling though. Nothing can ever replace the solemnity of the dawn mass. At times I feel sleepy and lazy to attend the dawn masses, but my goal is the one which pushed me. Many families go to dawn masses since it's already a tradition. When the mass is over people gather around stalls outside the church to buy our local rice cake, known as "bibingka" and "puto bumbong," a kind of purple colored delicacy covered with sugar. Even though it's cold at dawn, most of the people walk going home while talking about what had transpired in the mass. The streets are lighted by Christmas lanterns while the church bells rings a Christmas tune. The feeling was irreplaceable, and made me think that I am not striving to finish the nine days of dawn masses because of my wish, I was trying to complete it, because I wanted to make a difference for once, and complete the nine days for the first time.

After the nine days of dawn masses, on Christmas Eve, at midnight, families gather around the dining table to eat the traditional modnight dinner known as the "noche buena," to welcome the special day of Christmas. The next day, Christmas day, people attend the morning mass in theor best dresses and meets with the whole family after for the giving of gifts. The children kiss the hands of their godparents for money.

Christmas here in the Philippines is one holiday that is best celebrated with the family. Simple meals, simple gifts, yet a glorious Christmas.