臺北市新住民專區網站英文版

When September comes around, the Philippines starts to feel like Christmas. Shops on the streets begin to put up Christmas decorations during this time. Many countries around the world celebrate Christmas, but I think Philippines has the longest Christmas season. We have a nine-day long series of masses, which Filipino Catholics rehearse before Christmas holiday. My family and I always spend a lot of time and energy into the preparations before Christmas. We would think about what food to cook, how much food to prepare, and what gifts to give to our relatives and friends.

When Christmas comes, relatives and friends living in other towns will come back to visit. Children will go to everyone’s home to sing Christmas carols hoping to get some money to spend for Christmas. In the Philippines, Christmas means family reunion, and gathering of friends and neighbors. When we get together during Christmas holiday, we will eat, sing Christmas carols, exchange gifts, and give gifts to relatives like Santa Claus. Everyone, from children to adults are basked in a cheerful mood, because their parents, brothers and sisters are all back home.

On December 24, Christmas Eve, the air is always filled with joy and mirth. Many people will join the midnight mass, the final mass of the nine-day series of masses known as Simbang Gabi in the Philippines. After the last mass before Christmas, we always leave the church hungry and thirsty. And the street vendors outside the church are usually waiting with hot cocoa, salabat (ginger tea), and delicious puto bumbong, a type of bibingka made with purple rice cakes stuffed in bottom and cooked over hot coals.

After we return home and the clock struck 12 at midnight, everyone would greet each other saying "Merry Christmas", and open the presents under the Christmas tree. After we looted Santa’s gifts, we will head to the dinner table to enjoy our noche buena (Christmas feast). Spaghetti, spring rolls, fruit salad, and lechon (roast pork) are some of the foods that you will find filling our table for the noche buena. After the feast, we always pack some foods for the neighbors and share the food with them. In the Philippines, we give and share because we care!