Bridging the Gap
The changing mode of Christmas in the Philippines
The way Christmas is celebrated in the Philippines has undergone a lot of changes since early times. As everyone knows, the Christmas celebration in the country was introduced by the Spanish missionaries with the spread of Catholicism. It became especially widespread in the 19th century and onwards.
The Christmas celebration during the Spanish and early American periods focused more on church attendance and on the angelus or the early evening prayer of the family that revolved around the belen. Most households displayed the belen or the nativity scene with the child Jesus in it, and Mary and Joseph at the background at home. Outside and inside of the house, but mainly on the windows, were lanterns that were not necessarily lighted. If ever they were lighted, candles were the most common ones used. The popular lanterns were star-shaped symbolizing the bright star that served as a reference point to the birthplace of the Child Jesus.
From the American period to about the 1960s, caroling by both groups of adults and children or a combination of them was also popular. The accompanying musical instruments were usually the guitar, banjo, bajo, and a contraption made of softdrink caps that served as castanets. The popular Christmas carols were either in the local language or in Spanish, with a sprinkling of English songs, the most popular of which were Jingle Bells and Silent Night.
The usual things that the carolers received in return for their singing, aside from money, were local delicacies, eggs and chickens,and even fruits.
Of course, also a must during the Christmas season in the past was the "simbang gabi", a special series of masses held in the early morning from December 16 to December 24, attended by both young and old. Just at the entrance of the church, a common inviting sight was the presence of a number of people preparing "bibingka" and "puto" for sale to churchgoers. Sometimes, popular drinks at that time like "taho" and "tsokolate" were also available for sale.
The most important highlight of the celebration was, naturally, the Christmas day where all the members of the family were expected to be around. This very important gathering was always done in the home and where the family members sang Christmas songs together. Then, everybody partook of the noche buena where the centerpiece of the prepared food was the hamonada, either made of pork or chicken.
Certainly, the celebration throughout the month of December was/is never complete without the usual grand explosion of firecrackers that become pandemonium as the clock hands move closer towards midnight of December 31.
Towards the second half of the 20th century and onwards to the present, American influences and the effects of rapid modernization have brought about some significant changes in the way Filipinos celebrate Christmas. The symbolic focus of the celebration shifted to the Christmas tree and its decors. Lanterns have become more varied reflecting many geometrical shapes and colors, and already lighted by electricity. There are still nativity scenes but this particular element as Christmas representation has somehow been relegated to the background, especially with the commercialization of spectacular Christmas lights.
Christmas and New Year parties have become common and, significantly, no longer always held at homes. Popular venues for these gatherings are hotels, restaurants, night spots, and even beach resorts. Sometimes, on Christmas Day and New Year, some families and individuals celebrate outside of the home.
Popular snacks are no longer bibingka, suman, puto and other native delicacies but have been overshadowed by sandwiches, hamburger, French fries, spaghetti, and other processed foods. Taho and tsokolate have been completely replaced by beer and softdrinks and, in more affluent households, by wine and champagne.
Also, it is interesting to note that caroling is now mostly done by small children, and it's not the entertaining or celebrating kinds anymore. Adults can only be observed to engage in caroling if ever their group or organization is involved in a fund-raising project.
Anyway, despite the changes or modifications in the way Filipinos celebrate the Christmas season, many of the lovely traditional practices have remained alive. Among these are exchanging of gifts, the sharing of food during Christmas and the New Year, the family reunions, the going to church of the whole family, the singing or playing of Christmas songs, and a host of others. More important is the fact that the essential purpose and spirit of the Yuletide season are still in the hearts and minds of most of the people and the celebration, indeed, is all about love and Jesus Christ.