Christmas in the Philippines

Christmas in the Philippines (Filipino: Pasko sa Pilipinas) is one of the biggest holidays in the

country. The Philippines, one of two predominantly Catholic countries in Asia (the other one
being East Timor), celebrates the world's longest Christmas season,[1][2] with Christmas carols heard
as early as September 1 and lasting variously until either Epiphany, the Feast of the Black
Nazarene on January 9, or the Feast of the Santo Niño on the third Sunday of January.[3] The official
observance by the Catholic Church in the Philippines is from the first day of Advent until the Feast of
the Epiphany on the first Sunday after New Year's Day.[4]
Every year, Filipinos from around the world mark September 1 as the beginning of the countdown to
Christmas. This countdown, which spans from September to December, otherwise known as the
"Ber months", is one of the most important traditions that make the world's earliest and longest
timespan of a Christmas season.[5][6]
The Christmas season gradually starts from September 1 to December 25 and ends in either the
third or fourth week of January, or February. It is celebrated for almost half a year (4 months and 3–4
weeks or 5 months). Generally, holiday decorations are available as early as the weekend of
the National Heroes' Day in August. But for the members of the Philippine Independent Church
or Aglipayans, Christmas starts on the eve of December 24 and ends on January 1.