Five Reasons to Spend Christmas in the Philippines

Whenever you hear Christmas songs playing in the air or feel the cool breeze at night, it clearly indicates "Pasko na naman" or Christmas is here once again. And, where else in the world will you see people doing the viral dance craze in front of the ATM? Well, surely it is only in the Philippines!

As holidays are fast approaching, we all get excited to hear that "krrrrrrr" sound from the ATM when we receive our bonus or 13th-month pay. We also get thrilled as we open gift packages from our relatives abroad.

Celebrating Pasko sa Pilipinas is spending Christmas vacation going to a travel destination or simply a good reason to come home.

Top 5 Reasons to Celebrate Christmas in the Philippines

Did you know that the City of San Fernando is named the Philippines Christmas Capital?

Every 16th of December, San Fernando City, Pampanga celebrates Giant Lantern Festival. It is a feast that showcases a competition of giant parols or lanterns made from bamboo strips or fiberglass and dancing Christmas lights. Tourists around the world visit the Christmas Capital of the Philippines to witness such a momentous event. And, this one alone is one of the best reasons you should love Christmas in the Philippines.

So, how do Filipinos celebrate Christmas in our country?

1. Longest Christmas Celebration in the World.

Filipino Christmas is not just a day, it is the longest celebration of the year. We mark our calendars for the Christmas countdown on the 1st day of September and ended on the 1st Sunday of January, which is the Feast of Three Kings.

We start waiting for numerous Christmas shopping deals, join contests for parol-making, watch Christmas trees lighting-up events, decorate our homes for Christmas, and hear christmas songs everywhere.

Plus, we even practice hard for Christmas party presentations and Christmas carols. Even the pandemic did not stop us, it just digitized all these usual happening. Still, the essence of the Christmas spirit is there.

2. Simbang-gabi or Misa de Gallo

Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo originated during the Spanish era to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Aside from being a devotee, we all hope that this folk belief is true, "your Christmas wishes will be granted when you completed all the nine days of Simbang Gabi that begins from December 16 to 24. After hearing the mass, we love eating puto bumbong or bibingka with free tsaa just outside the churches. Puto bumbong is made of grated coconut, muscovado sugar, and purple rice cakes steamed in bamboo tubes.

Filipino Christmas traditions where people go to church pre-dawn or a midnight mass.

 

3. Christmas Gift Giving Tradition

As an important holiday in the Philippines, it is a family tradition to celebrate Christmas with gift-giving.

Monito-monita is one of the most-awaited ganaps either with friends, classmates, officemates or at home. This is a witty Filipino version of Secret Santa Claus, wherein there will be weekly level-up exchange gifts with a designated theme and agreed price.

All participants will have codenames and draw them in a box so it will be a surprise for both the giver and the recipient. We call receiving a mystery gift from a secret source usually on Christmas day. We also make time and effort to visit Ninong and Ninang as they hand over some pamasko, aguinaldo, or Christmas gifts.

4. Noche Buena on Christmas Eve.

Rice cake cooked in clay pots with whole family in the Philippines are also enjoyed.

Christmas parties in the Philippines will always have the best food to serve. Just thinking of the table filled with rice and these combinations of foods will surely make you crave: Pinoy-style spaghetti, Queso de bola, Christmas ham or hamon, fruit salad, and lechon. Even on a diet, Noche Buena on Christmas Eve is an automatic cheat day.

On the other hand, Filipino children get the chance to wear their new clothes at Christmas parties and even on Christmas day.  

5. Celebrating Christmas Season with the Family.

The best gift around the Christmas tree will always be the presence of family and your kids. Most families gather together and many OFWs come home for Christmas. But, we also think happily of what heart-warming gift to give to our family. So, why not double the celebration this Christmas season and surprise them with a jump to your new house and lot? And, Lumina Homes has got your backs.

Sa Paskong Lumina Ikaw ang Bida Christmas in the Philippines with Lumina Homes

Lumina Homes offers affordable house and lot properties in a master-planned community. It is complete with amenities like a community hall, basketball court, mini gardens, and playground. Lumina Homes has an accessible location close to major thoroughfares, transport hubs, schools, hospitals, and business and leisure centers.

Lumina Homes does not just build a self-sustaining community, it also provides every Filipino the pride of homeownership. Lumina envisions itself as becoming one of the top-listed housing developers in the country. In just 8 years, Lumina already has over 50 developments in key locations across the country. 

Lumina Homes have the affordable house and lot for sale in Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Cagayan, Isabela, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Albay, Sorsogon, Iloilo, Capiz, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Agusan del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and South Cotabato. This means that you have wider options in choosing a house and lot in the Philippines based on your preferred locations.

Time is a valuable commodity and so is money. So, invest in the best gift this Christmas Season for your family and be equipped for the future. Choose affordability, practicality, and accessibility. Choose Lumina Homes and experience a merry Christmas in the Philippines!