When is Christmas celebrated?
The Christmas season starts as early as September, the first of the "ber" months, and lasts into January. The high point is Noche Buena, the family feast after midnight Mass on 24 December.
Who brings the presents?
Santa Claus brings presents, and godparents (ninong and ninang) traditionally give gifts or money to their godchildren on Christmas Day.
Traditions
- Simbang Gabi: nine dawn Masses from 16 to 24 December. Popular belief says that whoever attends all nine may make a wish.
- The parol, a star-shaped lantern, hangs in windows everywhere. San Fernando in Pampanga holds a Giant Lantern Festival every December.
- Children go carolling from house to house in the weeks before Christmas.
What's on the table
- Lechón, a whole roast pig
- Hamón, a glazed Christmas ham
- Queso de bola, a ball of Edam cheese
- Bibingka and puto bumbong, rice cakes sold outside churches after Simbang Gabi