FOR many countries, the best month of the year is December. Why? Because traditionally, that’s when you start to celebrate Christmas: candy canes, pine trees, and presents galore!
This, however, isn’t the case in the Philippines. Here, Christmas is celebrated not just in December, but for a total of four months—starting all the way from September.
This is what Filipinos call the “ber” months. According to Asia Matters for America, the Philippine “ber” months aren’t like how Christmas is done in countries like the US; here, these four months grew from Filipino culture, serving as more time to celebrate family, faith, fiesta, friends, and fun.
While carolers are only just starting to make their rounds on December 1, Jose Mari Chan’s “Christmas in Our Hearts” starts blaring on every radio as soon as September comes rolling by.
Even now, there are already families putting up Christmas decorations, while local malls and other establishments are expected to be adorned with baubles, and huge trees with presents underneath to match.
Here, the countdown often starts a hundred days before Christmas, Gaby Flores of The Lannang Archives writes.
Why? Sociologist Bro. Clifford Sorita explained: “By knowing exactly how much time we have remaining to complete a task, instead of stressing about it, we will be able to better allocate our time.”
Things Filipinos look forward to
Nina Halley, founder of the Manila floral and décor company The Love Garden, said in an interview with CNBC: “Filipinos are a happy people.”
She noted that they will find any reason to celebrate and prepare food, gather around a table, sing, dance, and be merry.
Given the many months Filipinos take to prepare for Christmas, several festivities come along with it. Some highlights Filipinos look forward to are the following:
- Putting up decorations – Christmas lights, parol making
It is during the “ber” months that the creativity of Filipinos truly starts to shine (in both the figurative and literal sense.) As soon as September starts, suddenly the streets are adorned with bright lights and a parol in every size and color.
The parol is what makes Filipino Christmas unique; compared to the lone star atop the Christmas tree in other countries, here, they are everywhere.
According to the Asia Media Centre, these bright stars are traditional Christmas lanterns that symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, which guided the Three Wise Men to the manger upon Jesus’ birth.
They explain that the word comes from the Spanish term “farol,” which translates in English to “lantern” or “light.”
- Family coming home
As of 2023, according to Statista, there are 2.33 million registered overseas Filipino workers all around the world.
One reason why the “ber” months are so special here in the Philippines is that it is an opportunity for said OFWs to come home and spend time with their families, even if it’s just for a little while.
Flores said Christmas is a time that you spend with your family, hence why so many OFWs make it a point to come home, thus showing the family-first nature of the holiday and Filipinos.
- Simbang Gabi
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Filipino population is 78.8% Roman Catholic.
It is no surprise, then, that the biggest event during these “ber” months is Simbang Gabi, otherwise known as the Nine Mornings in English, or the Misa de Gallo in Spanish.
Simbang Gabi comprises nine Masses held at dawn, starting on December 16 and ending on the 24th, which is Christmas Eve. According to Behold Philippines, people have been practicing this tradition since the 17th century, wherein Filipinos were still under Spanish colonial rule.
What’s unique about this tradition is that often they happen extremely early, often at 4 or 5 in the morning. The Asia Media Centre explained that this tradition is one that’s deeply rooted in Philippine culture and is seen as a way for people to prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ.
They added that it is in this celebration that people can see the unity and faith of the Filipino people, particularly during Christmas time.
- Noche Buena
Of course, Christmas isn’t complete without a hearty Christmas feast. After Simbang Gabi, Filipinos go home to their families and dive right into Noche Buena, otherwise known as the “night of goodness.”
Some Noche Buena staples you’re sure to see at the table are hamon, macaroni salad, lechon, spaghetti (Filipino style, of course), leche flan, fruit salad, and of course, various assortments of rice cakes like bibingka and puto bumbong.
Oh, and don’t forget the queso de bola! A Filipino Christmas isn’t complete without a few slices of this cheese laid out on the table.
Even after Christmas is done, the festivities keep coming and coming. On January 1, for example, Filipinos celebrate Media Noche, which the journal Asia & Middle East Food Trade explained is meant to signify hope for abundance and prosperity in the months to come.
- The Feast of the Three Kings
The Christmas season in the Philippines officially comes to an end during the Feast of the Three Kings, also known as the Feast of the Epiphany or the Feast of The Wise Men, on January 6.
According to the Philippine News Agency, this day marks the time wherein Jesus’ identity was manifested and revealed.
While not everyone celebrates this, many see this as a time to celebrate Christ by cleaning the shoes and socks that have been left out on the window to put gifts inside of them.
Some towns also celebrate this day by having three men wear robes, riding horses and giving gifts to children.
It’s also a great time to remember the Three Wise Men, who were some of the first to show kindness to Jesus during his time on earth.
Many also refer to this day as the “Pasko ng Matatanda” or the “Feast of the Elderly,” as the three wise men are often depicted to be old, hence why others use it as a day to celebrate and honor the elderly.
