In Asia, the Philippines is the country with the highest percentage of Christians. Approximately 90% of the people there are Christians, and 80% of those are Catholic. Therefore, Christmas is one of the most important holidays in the Philippines.
Furthermore, the Philippine Christmas time is famous for the longest Christmas time in the world. Already in September, one can hear carols in the radio and shops, and the Christmas decorations line up the streets.
The official part of Christmas starts in the morning of December 16. From this day on, there are nine masses in the evening or early morning until December 24. This novena is called ‘Simbang Gabi’ (Night Worship) or ‘Misa de Gallo’ (Rooster’s Mass). The last mass of the novena at December 24 is the Midnight Mass in the evening. This mass is followed by a feast called ‘Noche Buena’. The feast is usually celebrated with family and friends, and many people stay awake all night into Christmas day. The Christmas time lasts until January 6, the Feast of Epiphany or Three Kings.
People in the Philippines also have Christmas trees, but usually they are made out of plastic. One tradition there is making ‘Parols’. These are star lanterns made from thin strips of bamboo which are covered in colored cellophane papers. It symbolizes the guiding star which the three wise men followed to find Jesus Christ.
The reason why I absolutely want to go in the Philippines is simply because my boyfriend is a Filipino, and I want to learn about his culture and become acquainted with his family and friends. So I would like to get to know about his life there in general, but spending Christmas with my boyfriend is of course one of the biggest dreams I have. Probably, going to the Philippines will be one of the next trips I will make, and maybe my dream will already become true next year.
Maligayang Pasko – Merry Christmas – Frohe Weihnachten
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