by Sunny Chiu
Can you name the country that loves Christmas the most? It’s the Philippines! With an over 80% Roman Catholic population in the Philippines, they celebrate Christmas for three months with a mixture of western and native Filipino traditions. Christmas songs start playing on the radio and decorations appear in the malls and homes overnight. Parols, unique five-pointed star lanterns made from colorful papers on bamboo sticks, are placed throughout homes, schools, and offices. There are nine-day series of early masses, known as Simbang Gabi, and street-wide Christmas carolers singing “Christmas In Our Hearts” and “Pasko Na Naman.” On Christmas Eve, the main event is the Filipino tradition of Noche Buena, a grand family dinner filled with Filipino food and the exchanging of gifts. An extended holiday season allows everyone to schedule Christmas events and spend more time with family, friends, and colleagues.
