How Do They Celebrate Thanksgiving in the Philippines?

Filipinos celebrate thanksgiving when there is somethings special they want to be thankful for. There is no regular day or month of thanksgiving celebration in the Philippines. They can choose anytime within a year to celebrate thanksgiving for a special reason. Not all people are doing this because celeberation is a great feast for them and this means money. There are others who would saved money in preparation for that special thanksgiving celebration they are planning to have.

Here are some important events for Filipinos to have thanksgiving celebration.

Graduation

When somebody in the family graduated from college/Unversity, it is really something for them to be thankful for all the hard work, expenses and the efforts they've put in order to reach that goal. It's not an easy thing specially if the family has just enough to survive and yet success has been met, it is very rewarding. They considered it a big success and with this, they would celebrate thanksgiving, All friends and relatives are invited to join them in this special occassion.

Passing the board exam

Passing a board exam is a big deal to anybody I think. Like Nursing board exam, Bar exam, engineering and whatever it is. I can still remember when some of my friends were able to pass the board exam, it's like a joy eternal to the family. They will spend the last money that they have, it doesn't matter as long as they could celebrate to express their thanks and gratitude to the Lord for the success they achieved. If they are living in the province and they have lots of cows and pigs? chances are they will have roasted pigs and butchered cows. They will invite all the neighboring friends, acquaintances, town officials, barrangay officials and sometimes passers by can still avail becaue they would invite everybody and join them in celebration. This is very common in the provinces.

Job Promotions

When somebody was promoted on his/her job, It is really something for them to celebrate thanks giving. It is a joy and pleasure in therir part to share their success to their friends and family. They do this as an expression of their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the Lord for the opportunities and blessings tafforded to them. Family and friends are always the special guests in occasions like this. I remember one time when my friend was promoted on her job, she was so thankful for the unexpected event in her career. She spent her savings for a thanksgiving celebration, inviting all friends, relatives, co-workers and neighbors to join with her in thanksgiving. It really means a lot to her.

Success in Business

When they are successgul in their business, like when they were able to get a big project and had tremendous profits on that business project, it is really something for them to celebrate thanksgiving. When they were able to put up another business in addition to the existing one, it would be a time for them to celebrate thanksgiving to the Lord. I remember a friend who had this kind of thanksgiving celebration where he invited the minister to grace the ocasion and to give blessing and special prayer for that new business he put up. Very good idea. This man is very successful in his business.

Safe travel Home

This is very common to those who traveled back home from abroad or they have relatives from far away land whom they never have seen for a long time and that traveled back home for some reasons, they will celebrate thanksgiving for the safety that God has provided on their travel.

New House

When they have a new house, newly bought or newly contsructed, it is also a good reason for them to celebrate thanksgiving. It is not easy to have a new fully furnished, concrete and comfortable house. It requires lots of efforts and hard labor becasue economy wise, a country like Philippines is not that progressive. Most people considered it a big success to own a confortable home and it is something to be thankful for. Most friends I know and I even have attended their thanksgiving (they also call it blessing for the new house) celebration, would invite the minister to have a special prayer and blessing for their new home.

New Car

This is the most exciting one specially to the middle classes because having a car is not a common thing to Filipinos for it is not a necessity in the country like Philippines to really have a car. There are lots of passenger vehicles to transport people to and from work so, it is never a problem if they don't own a car. To have a car is very expensive and not all can afford to buy one. This is the reason for thanksgiving celebration when they can have a new car. It is a trade mark that they are not really poor if they can have one car in the home of 8 people. Can you imagine that? In some countries, everybody has a car because they can't go anywhere without it. In the country like Philippines, when a family has 2 cars they are really rich. But in other countires even if some have 3 cars they are still poor. This is why, Filipinos would really celebrate thanksgiving for this reason. Buying a new car is not that easy for average Filipinos and to have one is really something to celebrate thanksgiving.