Mosca, Frinces M.

BSTM 1-C2

How Christmas is Celebrated In the Philippines

Christmas was celebrated as one of our

traditions in the Philippines, especially for us
as Roman Catholics. Christmas is observed as
an unique day by Roman Catholics because
they believe Jesus was born on that very
special day, December 25th. We're all looking
forward to celebrating the first Christmas
we've had in a year. Before we celebrated
Christmas, we began attending church, also
known as the "Simbang Gabi," which means you will attend nine sacraments as
is tradition in our nation. There is also a notion that if you successfully complete
the nine Simbang Gabi masses, your wishes will be granted with the assistance
of praying to God for your wishes to be granted.

In September, we normally start counting down the months, weeks, and days
until we celebrate Christmas Eve. The Filipinos began to decorate their homes
with parols as the countdown to the precise day of Christmas days drew nearer.
A parol that is quite different because of its color and size, and also has different
types of light put to it to make it more appealing to individuals who will be able
to see those sorts of decorations as a sign or a symbol of Christmas. It will be
wonderful to pair the parol with the christmas light, which you will be able to
install inside or outside of your house for people to feel relieved when they see
the christmas lights that have been displayed and attached to our house. With
every heart of ours, Christmas light may provide the essences of hope and joy.
This also caused other people to brighten up their day, the gloomy side of their
lives, and to shift bad vibrations so that they can start the Christmas day as
happy as our God did on his birthday.
 After you've decorated your Christmas
lights, the next step is to get your own
Christmas tree and decorate it on your
own or with your family and loved ones
at your home. Having your own
Christmas tree enhances the appeal of
your home due to the decorations you
place on it and the fact that you may
decorate it with your family. It has the
potential to bring delight to everyone. As Roman Catholics, we also have a
concept known as the "Sabsaban," or manger, where Jesus was born. So, as part
of our Filipino custom, we normally do something similar when we already have
our simbang gabi as one of the event's attractions. Those items are only the
start of the process of celebrating Christmas Day, and they are just a modest
manner or thing to do to begin a very wonderful day for our Lord and Savior.
Decorating is a special thing to do as we celebrate the birth of our children.
Others, who do not have the financial means to purchase such decorations, build
their own decker and, on sometimes, simply celebrate Christmas by playing on
the actual day of the holiday.

Also, some Filipinos pay attention to having

up feast particularly those who waited until
midnight to welcome and celebrate the birth
of our Lord. They usually have a simple
dinner with each other or with their families
or simply having a conversation with each
other, and after this feast, some people
waited for the morning to come to welcome
the guests and visitors that once to
celebrate christmas with you period Filipinos
usually attend mass on christmas day and
they do so with their families to thank god
that he was born for us, that he was born to
pay our sins that we've done.
People in our country typically go caroling before and during Christmas Day, in
which children and teenagers form a group that appears to entertain others in
exchange for money, sometimes in the form of clothes that they are unable to
use, and sometimes in the form of invitations to eat food that they have
prepared. Filipinos are known for their generosity, and we used to be known for
giving out cans to those in need and those who could use it because they didn't
have enough money to buy anything.

When the Filipinos celebrate Christmas in the Philippines, there are many food
sellers selling bibingka, puto bumbong, and other delicacies. In the Philippines,
those foods are also associated with Christmas. It is not only because of how
delicious the food is, but also because of how we help the food vendors who sell
that type of food in the middle of Christmas day. One of the best things we can
do is to assist them in selling out their products so that they can spend the
holiday with their families. As one of the more charitable Filipinos, we host a
Thanksgiving dinner where you can have and prepare a Christmas gift for
someone whose name you choose from that. There are also other games that
you can play with your partner or with the team to which you belong. After all of
the games have been completed, you may earn fries or a gift from the game's
composer. Following the awarding of awards to the victors of the games, there
will be a feast for all of the people, and they are all invited to come over and
partake in the feast that they have prepared for us.

I still remember the nicest Christmas I've ever had in my entire life, which was in
the year 2019. It was a lot of fun and one of the nicest times I've ever had with
my entire family. We rent videoke to make ourselves happier. We sing a lot
because no one can stop us from singing a song we enjoy. My uncle and auntie
have prepared several games for us to play, which are suitable for both young
and old people. There are also awards for people who can win the game, which
are either items or money that can be used in everyday life. It’s such a beautiful
idea to play a game like that since it may express our drive to earn prizes while
also representing our unity as a theme for a game. After that, Grandma may
prepare the feast, during which we all dine together and talk nonstop. We ate a
lot at the time, and because I was the only grandchild, I was in charge of
washing our plates and glassware. After that, we prepared for the mass and
went to it. Attending mass with my family around Christmas is such a relief
because for me, Christmas is a time for families to get together and celebrate
that unique day with Jesus, not just because of his greatness.