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The Heart of Filipino Holidays: Celebrating Christmas and New Year's with Prosperity

By Drenz Jairo Butuan & Jean Ashlee Viktoria Zervoulakos

Christmas in the Philippines is a heartwarming celebration marked by vibrant displays of parols, the enticing aroma of puto bumbong and bibingka after Mass, and the joyous Noche Buena feast. The cool December breeze sets the perfect mood for this season, where unique and festive traditions warm the hearts of Filipinos. Renowned for its extended holiday season, the Philippines celebrates Christmas from as early as September, making it the country with the most extended Christmas celebration in the world.

As the Christmas spirit fills the air, malls, parks, and homes come alive with festive music. One iconic song, All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey, consistently tops streaming charts, thanks to Filipino listeners. Even the singer humorously acknowledges this, playfully saying, "It’s not yet time," but making an exception for the Philippines, as most of her streamers are Filipinos.

A Filipino Christmas is complete with the grand Noche Buena on Christmas Eve. The feast includes dishes like Hamon, Queso de Bola, Filipino-style spaghetti, and Lumpiang Shanghai, making every Filipino family’s celebration memorable and loved. The Filipino tradition of Simbang Gabi, which runs from December 16 until Christmas Eve, is another integral part of the celebration. It symbolizes devotion. People dedicate nine days of their month to God, believing their wishes will be granted. Along with the early-morning Masses, seasonal delicacies like bibingka and puto bumbong fill the air with the sweet scent of banana leaves, brown sugar, and coconut shavings.

Filipinos are also known for their creativity and resourcefulness, which is evident in the colorful parols and other Christmas decorations that light up homes during the season. You’ll often see star-shaped lanterns made from plastic bottles, wood scraps, and plastic utensils, all lighting up the night sky and symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem.

A Filipino Christmas extends to New Year’s Eve with the tradition of Media Noche, a celebration similar to Noche Buena, but with a twist. Families celebrate a bountiful year ahead, wishing for more blessings. As the clock strikes midnight, families cheer, blow their torotots, and share home-cooked meals to usher in the new year.

This celebration also includes the tradition of 12 circular fruits and polka-dot clothing, which are believed to bring prosperity and good fortune. Each fruit represents a month of the year and symbolizes good luck and financial stability. Fruits like grapes, apples, and oranges are carefully arranged in a basket alongside coins and uncooked rice to attract blessings for the coming year. The belief in the power of circular-shaped items extends beyond fruits. Filipinos believe having more circular objects, like ornaments and coins, in the home will attract money and happiness. This tradition remains strong today, passed down through generations. If not polka dots, families also greet New Year’s Eve in t-shirts featuring Pantone’s Color of the Year. Similar to circular objects, bright colors are thought to attract good luck and a prosperous year ahead. This tradition reflects the strong family bonds in Filipino culture, as families come together to celebrate not just a new year but a shared symbol of hope and renewal.

Whether on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Day, Filipino holidays embody the country’s bright culture, warm greetings, homemade delicacies, and strong family ties. From September to December, the holiday spirit resonates in every Filipino household. These celebrations lay the foundation for values like love, hope, and generosity, ensuring that as long as traditions endure, families will continue to share stories and create memories that unite them with faith and happiness each year.

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