Welcoming the Christ Child in the Philippines

The celebration of Advent and Christmas is common to many cultures around the world. But the ways in which each culture celebrates are as varied as the cultures themselves. 

Kring Leaño is a native of the Philippines. She grew up in the capital city of Manila and serves as a missionary with her husband, Ramon, and their children in the provincial city Malaybalay. Kring shared with us some of the unique December traditions of her culture. 

Perhaps the most popular tradition across the Philippines is displaying the parol. A parol is a star-shaped lantern made from bamboo and decorated with Japanese paper or colored cellophane. These stars, representative of the star of Bethlehem, are displayed on the outside of homes with Christmas lights. This symbol of faith has become a standard expression of Christmas for Filipinos. 

While the secular world in the Philippines begins celebrating as early as September 1, the nine days leading up to Christmas are the most important for Catholic Filipinos. During each day of this Christmas novena, there is a misa de gallo at 4 a.m. Yes, 4 o’clock in the morning! Misa de gallo translates as “Mass of dawn” or literally “rooster’s Mass.”

A family is chosen to “sponsor” each Mass of the novena. They are the ones responsible for lighting the Advent wreath and uncovering one piece of the Nativity scene—beginning with one of the animals or shepherds, and ending with the empty manger during the Mass on the morning of December 24. 

Following the early-morning Mass, everyone enjoys refreshments that only come out this time of year. These include puto bumbong—a sweet sticky rice that is dyed purple and steamed inside a bamboo tube, and hot ginger tea or hot cocoa, depending on the region.

During the day on December 24, families prepare the Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) feast. The traditional main dish is lechon—a whole pig roasted over an open flame. If families can’t afford a whole pig, they at least have a ham. “You have to have a ham!” Kring says. Even if it’s a chicken cut to look like a ham.

The food is prepared, the table is set, and everything smells delicious…but the Nochebuena feast cannot be enjoyed until after Christmas Eve Mass. So the family eats something ordinary, like sardines, and heads to their parish church for Mass.

At this Mass, the sponsor family lays Baby Jesus in the now-uncovered manger. In the past they would use a real baby, Kring explains, but now a statue or doll is typically used. After the glorious Christmas Eve Mass and a dramatization of the Nativity story, the family returns home around midnight to partake in the feast that has been prepared! 

This feast is a time of thanking God for the past year. Filipinos are very family-oriented and even those living abroad try to be home at Christmas time. Kring says that it’s just not the same trying to imitate the celebration elsewhere. 

Filipinos as a culture love Christmas. They celebrate all season long. Kring’s husband, Ramon, has observed that Christmas in the Philippines brings something that unites all people of the country. Without even realizing it, they are also celebrating the birth of Jesus.

May all peoples and all nations adore Him. This is our prayer during the coming Advent and Christmas season, and always!

Ramon and Kring worked side by side with FMC missionaries for three years before going through Intake in 2015. Their family has served in Malaybalay, Camiguin Island, and mainland Asia.

Visit their bio page: leanofamily.familymissionscompany.com.