Philippines

Christmas is a universal holiday that is celebrated by many cultures. Each culture has a different way of celebrating Christmas, one example of that would be the Philippines and the U.S.

In the Philippines, people will start setting up Christmas decorations as early as September. Radio and TV stations will also begin playing Christmas music and programming in September. People also begin their Christmas shopping at this time. The most popular Christmas decoration in the Philippines is the Paról. A Paról is made with either a bamboo or wire frame, and covered with colored Japanese paper with lights on the inside. The Paról is made into the shape of a star. The Tagalog (Philippines’ official language) word for Christmas is “Pasko.” On December 16, the religious tradition of Simbang Gabi (Night Worship) begins. This is a series of nine masses, usually at 4:00AM, which go until December 24. Every night, children will go caroling around the neighborhood. On Christmas Eve, most families will celebrate Noche Buena, which is dinner after the midnight mass. On December 25, Christmas Day, most families will attend a morning mass if they didn’t attend the midnight mass. Afterwards, the families will get together and begin the Christmas day feast and gift exchanging. The children will do the “Mano” to their elders and godparents. It is the act of the child holding the hands of their elders and putting it directly on their forehead, as a sign of respect and asking for their elder’s blessing. Shopping malls, restaurants, and movie theaters are also open a Christmas Day. The Christmas season is not officially over until the 12th day after Christmas, where they celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany.

In the United States, Christmas decorations usually don’t go up until the beginning of November. Radio stations and TV stations won’t start playing Christmas until November as well. The most popular Christmas decoration in the United States is the Christmas tree...