The longest Christmas celebrations in the world
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Celebrations last less than two weeks in the carol, “The 12 Days of Christmas”.
Christmas today is celebrated all through December and, in certain places, even into November.
Four months of celebrations in the Philippines give new meaning to “holiday Season.”
The “ber” months
Christmas is celebrated during the “ber” months, as it’s called in the Philippines — that is, September, October, November and December, said Robert Blancaflor, president of the Manila-based events design company Robert Blancaflor Group.
“Christmas is the longest celebrated season in the Philippines and … our country celebrates it the longest globally,” he said. Imagine a country that is willing to share warmth and love for so long.
“Everywhere you look here is just pure Christmas,” said Robert Blancaflor, an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, adding he’s “glad to be living in such a joyous country.”
Robert Blancaflor
The party doesn’t stop at December.
Marot NelmidaFlores (a professor of Philippine Studies at the University of the Philippines Diliman) said that Christmas fever begins on September 1st and lasts until the first week of January.
However, she stated that it is “a new phenomenon”. The reason is not new.
The holiday is being commercialized
The proliferation of malls in Metro Manila, which then grew to the extent that they reached the entire provinces, saw Christmas carols become popular soon after All Saints Day. [on]Joven Cuanang-a Filipino neurologist and respected culture and art enthusiast, said Nov. 1. “This was to attract people to start shopping for Christmas gifts — it was commerce-driven.”
The “Christmas creep” is often caused by retail stores selling Christmas merchandise sooner than normal. There is a significant difference: while others condemn the practice, Filipinos largely embrace it.
Manila merchant sleeps under Christmas “parol”, or lanterns made of bamboo and paper, that are designed to look like the Star of Bethlehem.
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NelmidaFlores said that Filipinos start making parol (or Christmas lanterns) as soon as September. “Most islands today have their Christmas themed parks and parols.
Families reunite
Manila’s sculpture pays tribute to Filipino immigrants who work long hours to provide financial support for their loved ones.
JAY DIRECTO | AFP | Getty Images
This is unlikely to happen in the current year. Due to the pandemic, many of these workers from overseas, such as those who reside in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Hong Kong aren’t able to travel this year.
Marites Rheme Javier has not seen her family since 2019, despite having lived and worked in Singapore for 18+ years. It is her intention to spend Christmas with them and also the birth of her first grandchild last month.
Javier stated that radio stations start playing English and Tagalog Christmas songs around September. This is also when decorations — including Christmas trees — go up. Festivals and beauty pageants are also included. controversial yet wildly popular activity in the PhilippinesShe said that October is the best month to start.
L. Ramiro Hinojas is known as “dancing traffic cop”, who directs Manila traffic wearing a Santa Claus costume. R. Marites Rheme Lopez Javier stated that Santa Claus is not as well-known in the Philippines than in other countries. “It’s all the aunties [female relatives]Who put money in the stockings of their children’s feet.”
Getty Images.| AFP | Getty Images; R: Courtesy of Marites Javier
As a child, her family used cardboard and manila papers to make their Christmas tree. Plastic trees can now be purchased at a fraction of the cost in her village.
If asked whether she thinks there’s too many Christmases in the Philippines, her native Luzon island 45-year-old said that it was a joy! It’s very joyful time.
Celebrate Shifting Celebrations earlier
The Peninsula ManilaThe 45-foot tree was lit in November. But, Mariano Garchitorena (director of public relations at the hotel), stated that the Christmas tree is now being moved to October 2nd.
He stated that “there is no reason to delay Christmas since Christmas is always good idea” and added that “any Filipino good would agree with this.”
Mariano Garchitorena stated that staff at the Peninsula Manila begin planning for Christmas around June.
The Peninsula Manila
Garchitorena said that the hotel offers al-fresco dining “to make use of the hot weather.” It is located at The average temperature in Manila in December is 25 C (78 F)Climate-Data.org.
Nina Halley, founder of the Manila floral and décor company The Love GardenShe said that she began receiving Christmas orders in July.
Halley stated that “Philippines has been heavily influenced by West, particularly the U.S.” “So the same pines and cypresses, pinecones and dried oranges are heavily used in our décor. Fir trees are imported from Europe…
Nation of faith
Blancaflor stated that the Philippines is celebrating its long holiday season because religion is their foundation. [its]This year marks the 500th anniversary of Christianity.
Some 92% of people in the Philippines are ChristianThe Stanford School of Medicine says that it’s 80%. Among the population of 110 million, more than 80% identify as Roman Catholic — a figure greater than that of Italy.
Some 88% of Filipinos said they were very or moderately religiousAccording to the 2020 survey of Social Weather Stations, the Philippines, a social research organization, this is
The global pandemic forced Catholics to travel to remote areas or miss nine days of “Simbang Gabi” mass in 2020.
Ezra Acayan | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Blancaflor said that Simbang Gabi is a tradition where many of the faithful participate in pre-dawn mass attendance for nine days. It lasts between Dec. 16 and 24. This practice was introduced in 17th-century Spain by Spanish missionaries.
This used to mark the start of Christmas, said Cuanang, who recalled participating as a child: “Every dawn for nine days, we would huddle in the chill, going to church, culminating in the midnight mass on Christmas Eve.”
Joven Cuanang claimed that as a child in Ilocos (Luzon), children would sing Christmas songs from house to home in return for tupig. This sweet rice cake is similar to what the Filipino young carolers are singing, which was around 1955.
Hulton Archive | Three Lions | Hulton Archive | Getty Images
He said that celebrations were just three weeks in length back then.
Cuanang, an 81-year old, said “Most people from my generation find that the four-month period is a little too lengthy.”
How much culture is celebrated
Halley stated that Filipinos “are a happy people” and added that she believes her fellow citizens will have “any reason to enjoy and celebrate, prepare food, gather round a table and sing, dance, and be merry.”
Nina Halley’s “Pink Roses Christmas Tree”, arrangement made of roses, carnations and gypsophila, which is baby’s breath, was created by Nina Halley.
Photo courtesy of Nina Halley and The Love Garden
Linda Abella, aged 63 fixes the Christmas decorations outside her Palo home after a typhoon hit on Dec. 23, 2013.
Getty Images| NurPhoto | Corbis News | Getty Images
The country comprising some 7,100 islandsTyphoons are also common in this area. According to the Asian Disaster Reduction Center, there are 20 hits per year on average. Five of these can be very destructive.
“Filipinos can quickly respond to Christmas calls and channel their Christmas spirit to urgency. [help]Blancaflor said that the Filipinos are most affected by their actions.” One of the best things about Filipinos is their love for the outdoors. [is] being able to smile through the downside of life and still be thankful amidst obstacles — knowing there will be a better day.”
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