Christmas is fast approaching. this will be Yazi's and my daughter's first Christmas away from home in the Philippines.
I know Christmas here is not celebrated the same as in the Philppines. I know whatever I do, for them it will not be the same as being back home. any suggestions for things to do to give it some of the feel of a Christmas in the Philippines?

Just my observation, but to most Filipinos, Christmas is more a religious holiday then it seems to be here. Traditionally, they don't load a huge pile of presents under a tree like we do. Are you both Catholic?

A nativity set and perhaps a parol (or two)

Here's a website that tells how to make a simple parol.

I remember my Filipino friends saying Christmas here is just not the same as back in the Philippines. It's my impression also that in the Philippines, Christmas is more of a religious celebration and less commerical. They don't have Thanksgiving Day in the Philippines. There is more of a continous celebration during the Christmas Season. We are both Catholic, her more so practicing than me.

Same here (both Catholic). And I remember the time way back when, when Christmas wasn't a 3 month spending frenzy. That honestly has really turned me off to the Christmas Season. I love the change of weather, the lights, etc., but it just seems like we are bombarded with a commercialized holiday that has buried the humbleness of the Christmas story.

We haven't really talked much about Christmas, but I'm hoping that we'll keep it simple but also nice.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm kind of lazy, I think I know a Filipino store where I probably can buy one.
knowing my wife though, she'll probably make one. she likes doing things like that. she made all the decorations at our engagement party in the Philippines and at our wedding here. she's received several compliments on her flower arrangements.

I have a suggestion on how to make it like back home... Take a plane... Hehehehehe!!!

air fare this time of year is too damn expensive

Christmas as be the same no matter where you. It is what you and your love ones make of it. The most important thing about Christmas is that it is a time to be with you love ones. That you remember the reason there is a Christmas to honor the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just rememeber Christmas, birthday, or any other holiday is what you and your family make of it.
Have a warm and wonderful holiday season. God bless.

this morning while in the car going to church suddenly there's a chistmas song over the radio "Karen Carpenter" singing Merry Christmas Darling (I don't know if that's the correct title) it just hit me. I cried it's because this is my frist Christmas away from home. I felt lonely since Christmas is my favorite holiday of all time. I'l miss the kids on the street caroling or all the kids on their new clothes on christmas day, the christmas party at work complete with the christmas presentation all preparation and endless rehearsals last year our christmas theme was Broadway and you would'nt believe how talented filipinos are, the group that won did the musical Chicago it was superb (live singing), i love Miss Saigon, Footloose, Les Miserables, Cats, Rent and our group did Mama Mia (I was in the chorus). . I'l also miss the family gathering, reunions & parties, endless karaoke, puto bumbong, the smell of kastanyas, holiday traffic, all the little trinkets you I received from co-workers & friends, bonus, all the good food, the ayala decors or the malls... oh please bear with me I'm being nostalgic again...

when I talked to my mother last night she told me she has already put up her christmas tree and chistmas lights outside the house, the santa sleigh has been up outside and more decors are being prepared... Life is indeed good.

Merry Christmas everyone!

thank you eau explain for the parol making instructions... i'l try if i could do that our town here is having a christmas decor contest and i've told my filipino community to join and we'll make native parol, salamat!

Yes you're right whatever you will do it will never be the same as being back home. So why don't you stress yourself in giving them a Filipino Christmas, give them a new experience, let them feel and enjoy the American Christmas. Its my first Christmas in here too, though i am sad because i can't be with my family this Christmas, i am excited because i wan't to experience the American Christmas. Lets be realistic, we are in America and embracing American Tradition won't change our being a Filipino.

Sorry, but it cannot be the same for several reasons. Our country was founded on Christianity, yet we make the majority suffer for the minority. Get ready to see and hear "Happy Holidays" again this season versus "Merry Christmas." That on top of the commercialism (like Lexus' with bows in the driveway as though every common American can do that) makes me sick. The best thing to do is to celebrate the birth of Christ the best as you can in your home and in your church.

Thanks for all the replys. It's not my intent to make it into a Christmas like in the Philippines. since we are a FilAm family, just thought it would be nice do to a couple of things which have a touch of what it's like in the Philippines.
Thanks again.

Rhosie started asking me how much the artificial trees were awhile back. I told her that if she likes we could have a real one.......... The surprise in her voice just amused me. She simply said "Really; you can do that". My suggestion: make it a new thing for them. Make it something they'll never forget. And get a real tree. I can't wait to get the tree and let Rhosie's artistic side come out.

Our whole family always makes the Christmas celebration just like being in the Philippines. We have our traditional Noche Buena with all kinds of food, Santas gifts, church at midnight and our christmas tree of course and bunch of lights outside our house. You can always feel the spirit of Christmas no matter where you are. You can take them to Christmas shows, christmas caroling and a picture with Santa at malls. Why not take them to a family portrait studio to capture your first Christmas together as a family? That will be one thing nice being together for christmas.

According to Marlene, Christmas decorations need to go up early in October. We've had parols hanging in the windows since the day after Halloween and the tree was up and decorated well before Halloween. The lights outside went up in September, but we've only turned them on once so far to test them.

An excellent idea. Especially a freshly cut tree and the smell of pine.

I can't wait for the real tree, decorations may help bring the Christmas spirit in the home & set the tone right, at least for me they sure do. We also thought of playing Christmas CDs, even movies on that day, attending Mass (I still have to know the schedule). A simple candlelight dinner and a lot of snuggling are to be expected on the eve. After all Christmas is everywhere, where there is selfless love to give.

Here is my .02 cents..

Filipinos like Christmas Decoration.. So have some Christmas Decor in the house and outside the house.. (Christmas Trees, Christmas Light, etc.)

Wake him/her up with the sounds of Filipino Christmas songs.. (Like the Medleys)

On the night of christmas eve.. Prepare a filipino dish for your noche buena. Food like (Home Made Ham, Filipino sweets, etc)

Found this for you...

The Philippines is said to celebrate is said to celebrate the longest Christmas season in the world.

Perhaps the most important of the traditional Christmas practices in the country is the Simbang Gabi, or traditional dawn mass. At cock's crow for nine dawns before the Christmas Eve mass, families troop to the churches for an early morning mass, after which they rush home for the traditional breakfast of native delicacies like bibingka (rice cake) and salabat (ginger tea) or thick cocoa.

The Simbang Gabi theme brings a heartwarming ambience to your party. Brass band music resounds in the air, recalling the bands that would go around the community to wake townspeople in time for the mass. A belen, or native crèche, lends poetry to the scenery, along with Christmas lights and parols (Christmas star lanterns). The table is decked, not just with "simbang gabi favorites, but with traditional Christmas food fare. The Simbang Gabi is a deep-seated tradition that has kept Filipino families and communities together.

You might want to have "bibingka" on your table... Here's the recipe:

Bibingka Recipe (Simplified)

Prep time: 10 mins
Total Cooking time: 35 mins

Ingredients

1 cup All-Purpose flour
2 tsps Baking Powder
1 cup butter milk (substitute regular milk is OK)
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
cream cheese (approx. 3 oz)
salted egg (optional and not really advised)
1 tbls melted butter (for topping)
2 tbls sugar (for topping)

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees (I hate the term "preheat"). Butter, grease, whatever, an 8-inch cake pan.
Sift flour and baking soda into a large bowl. Stir in milk, egg, and sugar until just combined.
Pour mix into pan and pop into oven for 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and place cream cheese on top. Here, if you're a purist, you'd add the egg. Me? No way. Bake for another 15 minutes. If baking more than one this would be a dandy place to trade racks.

Brush bibingka with melted butter and the reserved sugar. Place back in oven under the broiler (you may want to raise the rack) until sugar is just melted and bubbly, and the cheese is golden brown, approx. 2-3 minutes. BUT DO NOT BLINK, DO NOT WALK AWAY -- watch this closely, the difference between done and burnt can be about 8 seconds.

And since you're Catholics, find a Filipino store that sells "Belen" (ask her about this) and have her set it up in your home. That would give a bit touch of Philippine's Xmas. Buy Christmas songs sung by Filipino artists and have it played it for her. That might make her cry and make her miss the Philippines, but it will also make her feel at home. I know I will be miserable and homesick from being far away from my family, but I just think that celebrating Xmas with my husband (waited for this all my life) is enough to make the holiday jolly.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

--Mae

Thanks, Mae! Oh, I've got to be saving all these great recipes from you...LOL. Awesome!

You're welcome!

Lots of good suggestions. thanks all thanks for the recipe Mae.

For me, Christmas won't be the same without "simbang gabi", "bibingka", "puto bumbong", Christmas carols and most of all, dear ones to celebrate it with. When I was a kid, I used to go house to house caroling with my friends in the neighborhood (and nearby town). How we laughed whenever we would sing "thank you, thank you, ang babarat ninyo, thank you" to those who wouldn't give us a peso or something after singing songs at the top of our lungs. I missed those days... Christmas caroling is a big thing in the Philippines. Some do it for fun, others to make some money for a living, and some for fund raising, etc... No matter what the cause is, it's still the spirit of Christmas that reigns amongst them.

PUTO BUMBONG

- A purple-colored Filipino dessert made of sweet rice cooked in hollow bamboo tubes that are placed on a special steamer-cooker. When cooked, they are removed from the bamboo tubes, spread with butter and sprinkled with sugar and niyog (grated coconut). They are then wrapped in wilted banana leaves which keep them warm and moist until ready to be eaten. Like Bibingka, Puto Bumbong is inexorably linked with Simbang Gabi--the Catholic mass celebrated at dawn on the nine days preceding Christmas.

Puto bumbong is a uniquely prepared delicacy cooked in standing bamboo or metal tubes attached to a steam-producing tin can or cylinder mounted on a small saucepot of boiling water or steam. Since we don't have that here in US, maybe we can experiment and use our regular steamer. That means, you will have to improvise on how to form the rice cake like it was cooked in a bamboo tube.

Ingredients:

3 cups glutinous rice flour or ordinary glutinous rice
1 1/2 cup rice flour
12 tbsp shredded coconut
18 tbsp water
1 tsp Ube flavocol or violet food color

Toppings:

brown sugar
grated coconut
butter, softened
cheese

Procedure:

1. In a large bowl combine glutinous rice flour, rice flour and shredded coconut until well combined.

2. Dissolve ube flavocol or violet food color in water. Add into dry ingredients. Mix with your hands until resembles a wet sand. Let rest for 30 minutes. Uncovered.

3. Steam in the steamer until cooked.

4. Serve hot. Brush with softened butter. Sprinkle top with brown sugar, grated cheese and coconut.

ENJOY!

--Mae

Since i started working, i never been in Pinas to celebrate Christmas coz my job requires a lot of travelling. Last year Iam so happy that I was given a chance to celebrate it again with my family in Manila but this coming christmas I'll celebrate it in US with my husband. Its kinda new coz i'll be busy preparing for noche buena without help from my mom. Our house is fully decorated already, some gifts already wrapped, still more to do...this is my first christmas tree as a wifey so i want it memorable. Still misa de gallo, christmas carols, bibingka, puto bungbong and ninongs and ninangs will surely missed!!!

this is from Wikipedia on Christmas in Philippines

Misa de Gallo (Dec. 16-24)
Traditionally, Christmas Day in the Philippines is ushered in by the nine-day dawn masses that start on December 16. Known as the Misa de Gallo (Rooster's Mass) in the traditional Spanish, and these masses are also more popularly known in Filipino as Simbang Gabi, or "Night Mass". The Simbang Gabi is the most important Filipino Christmas tradition.

These nine dawn Masses are also considered as a Novena by the Catholic and Aglipayan faithfuls. This refers to the Roman Catholic and Aglipayan practice of performing nine days of private or public devotion to obtain special graces.

In some parishes, the Simbang gabi begins as early as four in the morning. Going to mass this early for nine consecutive days is meant to show the churchgoer's devotion to his faith and heighten anticipation for the Nativity of the Lord. In traditional Filipino belief, however, completing the novena is also supposed to mean that God would grant the devotee's special wish or favor.

After hearing Mass, Filipino families partake of traditional Philippine Christmas delicacies, either during breakfast at home or immediately outside the church, where they are sold. Vendors offer a wealth of native delicacies, including bibingka (rice flour and egg based cake, cooked using coals on top and under), puto bumbong (a purple sticky rice delicacy which is steamed in bamboo tubes, with brown sugar and coconut shavings as condiments), salabat (hot ginger tea) and tsokolate (thick Spanish cocoa).


[edit] Christmas Eve
For Filipinos, Christmas Eve on December 24 is the much-anticipated Noche Buena -- the traditional Christmas Eve feast after the midnight mass. Family members dine together around 12 midnight on traditional Noche Buena fare, which includes: queso de bola (Span. literally "ball of cheese"; edam cheese), "Tsokolate" (hot chocolate drink) and hamon (Christmas ham), and some would open presents at this time.

In different provinces and schools throughout the Philippines, Catholic devotees also reenact the journey of Joseph and the pregnant Blessed Virgin Mary in search of lodging for the soon-to-be born Jesus Christ. This is the traditional Panunuluyan, also called Pananawagan and Pananapatan.

This street pageant is performed after dark on Christmas Eve, with the actors portraying Joseph and Mary going to pre-designated houses. They chant wika wika bang bang, a traditional folksong that is meant to wake up the owner of the house as the actors ask for lodging. But the couple (actors) are turned away by the owners, also through a song. Finally, Joseph and Mary make their way to the parish church where a simulated manger has been set up. The birth of Jesus is celebrated at midnight with the Misa de Gallo, together with hallelujahs and Christmas carols. Everybody celebrates this tradition happily yet solemnly.


[edit] Christmas Day
Christmas Day in The Philippines is primarily a family affair. Prior to the ticking of 12 midnight on 25 December, Misa de Aguinaldo is being celebrated. It is usually attended by the whole family. Misa de Aguinaldo is the Holy Mass celebrated to signify the Birth of Jesus Christ, the Roman Catholic Church and Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan) in the Philippines' main means of celebrating Jesus Christ's birth.

Misa de Aguinaldo is also celebrated at dawn or in the morning immediately after sunrise before 10 AM, this schedule is preferred by Filipinos who choose to celebrate Christmas Eve with a night-long celebration of Noche Buena.

Preferably in the morning, Filipino families visit members of the extended family, notably the elders in order to pay their respect. This custom has been an age-old tradition in the Philippines called Pagmamano, this is done by touching one's forehead to the elder's hand saying Mano Po. The elder then blesses the person who paid respect. Aguinaldo or money in the form of crisp, fresh-from-the-bank bills is given after the Pagmamano, most usually to younger children.

A Christmas Lunch usually follows after the Pagmamano. The lunch is heavily dependent upon the finances of the family. Rich families tend to prepare grand and glorious feasts that consist of Jamon de Bola, Queso de Bola, Lechon and other Filipino delicacies. Some poor families choose to cook simple meals, nevertheless still special. When the family is settled after the lunch, the exchange of gifts is usually done. Godparents are expected to give gifts or Aguinaldo to their godchildren.

When nightime falls, members of the family usually take part in family talks while listening to favorite Christmas carols. Some may opt to have a glorious Christmas feast for dinner.


[edit] Niños Inocentes
Niños Inocentes is commemorated on December 28 as Holy Innocents' Day or Childermas in other countries. The innocents referred to are the children who were massacred by order of Herod, who was seeking the death of the newborn Messiah.


[edit] New Year's Eve (Dec. 31)
On New Year's Eve ("Bisperas ng Bagong taon"), Filipino families gather for the Media Noche or midnight meal – a feast that is also supposed to symbolize their hopes for a prosperous New Year. In spite of the yearly ban on firecrackers, many Filipinos in the Philippines still see these as the traditional means to greet the New Year. The loud noises and sounds of merrymaking are not only meant to celebrate the coming of the New Year but are also supposed to drive away bad spirits. Safer methods of merrymaking include banging on pots and pans and blowing on car horns. Folk beliefs also include encouraging children to jump at the stroke of midnight so that they would grow up tall, displaying circular fruit and wearing clothes with dots and other circular designs to symbolize money, eating twelve grapes at 12 midnight for good luck in the twelve months of the year, and opening windows and doors during the first day of the New Year to let in the good luck.


[edit] Three Kings (First Sunday of the year)
Christmas officially ends on the Feast of the Three Kings (Tres Reyes or Tatlong Hari in Tagalog), also known as the Feast of the Epiphany. The Feast of the Three Kings was traditionally commemorated on Jan. 6 but is now celebrated on the first Sunday after the New Year. Some children leave their shoes out, so that the Three Kings would leave behind gifts like candy or money inside. Jan. 6 is also known in other countries as Twelfth Night, and the "Twelve Days of Christmas" referred to in the Christmas carol are the twelve days between Christmas Day (December 25) and the coming of the Three Kings (January 6).


[edit] Decorations
The Filipino Christmas would not be complete without the traditional Philippine Christmas symbols and decorations. Christmas lights are strung about in festoons, as the tail of the Star of Bethlehem in Belens, in shapes like stars, Christmas trees, angels, and in a large variety of other ways, even going as far as draping the whole outside of the house in lights. Aside from Western decorations like Santa Claus, Christmas trees, tinsel, etc, the Philippines has its own ways of showing that it is the holidays.


[edit] Parol
Though not strictly a custom, every Christmas season, Filipino homes and buildings are adorned with beautiful star lanterns, called parol (Span. farol, meaning lantern or lamp-Merriam Webster Spanish- English English- Spanish Dictionary). The earliest parols were traditionally made from simple materials like bamboo sticks, Japanese rice paper (known as "papel de Hapon") or crepe paper, and a candle or coconut oil-lamp for illumination; although the present day parol can take many different shapes and forms. The parol is also traditionally made of lacquered paper and bamboo, but others are made of cellophane, plastic, rope, capiz shell and a wide variety of materials. Making parols is a folk craft, and most Filipino kids have tried their hand at making a parol at one time or another, maybe as a school project or otherwise. The most basic parol can be easily constructed with just ten bamboo sticks, paper, and glue. These lanterns represent the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men or Three Kings (Tatlong Hari in Tagalog). Parols are to Filipinos as Christmas trees are to Westerners- an iconic and beloved symbol of the holiday.


[edit] Belen
Another traditional Filipino Christmas symbol is the belen -- a creche or tableau representing the Nativity scene. It depicts the infant Jesus Christ in the manger, surrounded by the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the shepherds, their flock, the Magi and some stable animals and angels. Belens can be seen in homes, churches, schools and even office buildings. The ones on office buildings can be extravagant, using different materials for the figures and using Christmas lights, parols, and painted background scenery. A notable outdoor belen in Metro Manila is the one that used to be at the COD building in Cubao, Quezon City. In 2003, the belen was transferred to the Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan when the COD building closed down. This belen is a lights and sounds presentation, the story being narrated over speakers set up and most probably using automatons to make the figures move up and down, or turn, etc. Each year, the company owning it changes the theme, with variations such as a fairground story, and Santa Claus' journey. Construction for this year's show started around September 1.


[edit] Caroling
In the Philippines, children also celebrate Christmas with the traditional Christmas caroling --going from house to house singing Christmas carols. Makeshift instruments include tambourines made with tansans (aluminum bottle caps) strung on a piece of wire. With the traditional chant of "Namamasko po!", these carolers wait expectantly for the owner of the house to reward them with coins. After being rewarded, the carolers thank the owner by singing "Thank you, thank you, ang babait ninyo (you are so kind), thank you!"

An example of a carol sung is "Sa may bahay ang aming bati" (from Jim Ayson’s Maligayang Pasko! Home Page):

Sa may báhay ang áming báti:
"Merry Christmas na maluwalháti!"
Ang pag-íbig, pag siyàng naghári,
Aràw-áraw ay mágiging Paskó lagí!
Chorus:
Ang sanhí po ng pagparíto,
Hihingî po ng áginaldo.
Kung sakáli't kami'y perhuwísyo
Pasensya na kayó't kamí'y namámasko!
Ulítin lahàt
Translation:

At the house we greet:
"A Glorious Merry Christmas!"
If Love were to reign,
then everyday would be Christmas!
Chorus:
The reason we came here
is to ask for gifts.
If it so happens we are a bother,
Be patient since we're soliciting for Christmas!
Repeat all

[edit] External links

thanks for the info.....my brother and his friend are coming over to our home for christmas, I never celebrated before so I am going to try the recipes and get the house decorated and plan on having a lot of fun, I know my husband will be missing his family there(RP)...........I hope you all give more suggestions...........thanks!

waaaahhhhh... I want some lechon and dinuguan!!!!

You'll find Easter is also much more important as a religious holiday to Christian Filipinos. I had never heard of Black Saturday the day before Easter until my wife mentioned it while we were chatting prior to my first trip over.

im gonna miss the crispy lechon skin!!! i dont like the meat! i just want the SKIN!!!!!

HI, I LIKE THAT LECHON. SO MASARAP. WELL I THINK U CAN COOK PINOY FOODS. FOODS THAT WE HAVE AT X MAS BAK IN PINAS... MAYBE THAT WILL HELP TOO.
ITS TRUE THAT ITS KINDA DIFFERENT. ITS MY FIRST X MAS HERE AND I MISS OUR X MAS KC WE ARE BIG FAMILY UNLIKE HERE LOL .
WITH THE PINOY FOODS IT MIGHT HELP....INGAT