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Dreaming of a Filipino Christmas

In the spirit of Christmas and COVID-19, Christmas celebrations are always present in the Filipino community. Despite having the same reason for the season , Filipino Christmas is simple yet extreme in detail. What makes a very Filipino Christmas celebration are the following:

Rain or shine, it’s perfect Christmas weather !

White Christmas ? In the hot and sunny Philippines, it is either only rainy or sunny on the day itself. Far from the snow that the west has, a bit of chilly air in the afternoon towards evening makes up for perfect Christmas weather , and sometimes we get minimal rain which brings a temperature that is cooler . We expect a lot of sunshine any day during the month that could possibly bring warmer weather on Christmas day .  In the end, whatever the weather , the spirit of Christmas is deeply felt beginning the month of September (even through thunderstorms!) in the Philippines.

Sing a Christmas carol

As soon as December starts, the caroling begins . It is common to go from house to house and in public places just like in the West. However, in the Philippines, street children use this opportunity to go around cars during red lights and sing a carol instead of just begging for alms . Luckily for them , it’s the season for giving so they are often given money or food . Despite its uniqueness, this is a dangerous practice and the government must take measures to make sure these children do not have to go through this.

Parol “Philippine Lantern” is a part of the Philippine Culture .

Always extra with decorations

Christmas is always an excuse to decorate and Filipinos are always extra with the decor. Synthetic Christmas trees (since we don’t sell real ones) covered in lights and hanging ornaments are almost always present in houses, offices, and public places. A specific decoration that is distinctly Filipino is the parol. A  parol is an ornamental lantern usually in the shape of a star . They were traditionally constructed using Japanese paper and bamboo and lighted up by candles but now, modern ones are made with sturdy plastic and LED lights. These Filipino ornaments brighten up the Christmas season even during the darkest nights of December. Pretty much, every Filipino household would like to have a Parol hanging by their window or porch.

Never a silent night

Filipinos are very loud festive people when there’s a celebration. In fact, if your party isn’t loud enough, it’s probably not fun enough. There are titos and titas (uncles and aunties) talking on one corner, children playing in another, and cousins singing and dancing to karaoke. Queue in the fireworks as the clock strikes 12. Filipino Christmases are always filled with noisy merrymaking. Karaoke, dancing, and fireworks are fun parts of Filipino Christmas celebrations!

Everybody in the family plus friends and neighbors

Christmas in the Philippines is never celebrated alone. When they say Filipinos are family -oriented, it doesn’t just mean immediate family . This includes all extended family plus adopted family members (a.k.a. super close friends who have turned into a family ). This is the essence of a Filipino Christmas . No matter where Filipinos are in the world , they carry the custom of celebrating the Filipino way – with extended family and friends .

Learn Tagalog

the same reason - parehong dahilan
chilly air in the afternoon - malamig na hangin sa hapon
temperature that is cooler - temperatura na mas malamig
caroling begins - magsisimula na ang pamamasko
sing a carol - kumanta ng pampamasko
begging for alms - humingi ng limos
luckily for them - swerte para sa kanila
covered in lights - natatakpan ng mga ilaw
ornamental lantern - pandekorasyon na parol
shape of a star - hugis ng bituin
hanging by their window - nakasabit sa kanilang bintana
this is the essence - ito ang espiritu
carry the custom - dalhin ang kaugalian
never a silent night - walang tahimik na gabi
1. the same reason - parehong dahilan
0:03
2. chilly air in the afternoon - malamig na hangin sa hapon
0:04
3. temperature that is cooler - temperatura na mas malamig
0:04
4. caroling begins - magsisimula na ang pamamasko
0:04
5. sing a carol - kumanta ng pampamasko
0:04
6. begging for alms - humingi ng limos
0:03
7. luckily for them - swerte para sa kanila
0:04
8. covered in lights - natatakpan ng mga ilaw
0:04
9. ornamental lantern - pandekorasyon na parol
0:04
10. shape of a star - hugis ng bituin
0:04
11. hanging by their window - nakasabit sa kanilang bintana
0:05
12. this is the essence - ito ang espiritu
0:04
13. carry the custom - dalhin ang kaugalian
0:04
14. never a silent night - walang tahimik na gabi
0:04

Learn Cebuano

the same reason - parehas nga rason
chilly air in the afternoon - bugnaw nga hangin sa hapon
temperature that is cooler - temperatura nga mas bugnaw
beginning on the month of September - sugod sa bulan na Septiyembre
caroling begins - nagsugod ang caroling
sing a carol - kanta ug carol
begging for alms - galimos
luckily for them - swerte para nila
covered in lights - gitabonan sa mga suga
ornamental lantern - pangdekorasyon nga parol
shape of a star - porma sa usa ka bituon
hanging by their window - nagbitay sa ilang bintana
this is the essence - mao kini ang esensya
carry the custom - dad-on ang kostumbre
never a silent night - walay hilom nga gabii
1. the same reason - parehas nga rason
0:02
2. chilly air in the afternoon - bugnaw nga hangin sa hapon
0:02
3. temperature that is cooler - temperatura nga mas bugnaw
0:03
4. beginning on the month of September - sugod sa bulan na Septiyembre
0:03
5. caroling begins - nagsugod ang caroling
0:02
6. sing a carol - kanta ug carol
0:02
7. begging for alms - galimos
0:01
8. luckily for them - swerte para nila
0:02
9. covered in lights - gitabonan sa mga suga
0:03
10. ornamental lantern - pangdekorasyon nga parol
0:02
11. shape of a star - porma sa usa ka bituon
0:03
12. hanging by their window - nagbitay sa ilang bintana
0:03
13. this is the essence - mao kini ang esensya
0:03
14. carry the custom - dad-on ang kostumbre
0:03
15. never a silent night - walay hilom nga gabii
0:03

Learn Ilocano

the same reason - agpada ti rason
chilly air in the afternoon - nalamiis nga pariir iti malem
temperature that is cooler - temperatura nga nalamiis
beginning on the month of September - agrugi ti bulan ti setyembre
caroling begins - mairugi ti panagpaskua
sing a carol - agkanta ti pagpaskua
begging for alms - agpakaasi ti limos
luckily for them - nagasat kadakuada
covered in lights - marekpan ti raniag
ornamental lantern - pangdekorasyon nga lantern
shape of a star - ugis ti bituin
hanging by their window - nakasabit ti tawa
this is the essence - daytoy ti espiritu
carry the custom - ilayon ti kustomre
never a silent night - awan ti naulimek nga rabii
1. the same reason - agpada ti rason
0:03
2. chilly air in the afternoon - nalamiis nga pariir iti malem
0:05
3. temperature that is cooler - temperatura nga nalamiis
0:05
4. beginning on the month of September - agrugi ti bulan ti setyembre
0:05
5. caroling begins - mairugi ti panagpaskua
0:04
6. sing a carol - agkanta ti pagpaskua
0:04
7. begging for alms - agpakaasi ti limos
0:04
8. luckily for them - nagasat kadakuada
0:04
9. covered in lights - marekpan ti raniag
0:04
10. ornamental lantern - pangdekorasyon nga lantern
0:05
11. shape of a star - ugis ti bituin
0:03
12. hanging by their window - nakasabit ti tawa
0:04
13. this is the essence - daytoy ti espiritu
0:05
14. carry the custom - ilayon ti kustomre
0:04
15. never a silent night - awan ti naulimek nga rabii
0:04
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