Hello, Renxkyoko Iglesias here, wishing you peace, happiness, prosperity , and good health in 2017 and the years to come.
So I promised to post something about how Christmas is celebrated in the Philippines.
To start off, a joyful Filipino Christmas music. maybe you can click it , and listen while reading the rest of the post… yes ? We learn a country’s culture through its music. So, click , please ? The title is Kampana ng Simbahan or Church Bell, or Bell of the Church
How does the Philippines celebrate Christmas ?
a) It’s the longest holiday celebration in the world. Everyone starts decorating right after All Saints’ Day ( Filipinos call Todos los Santos , Nov. 1, which is a holyday in the Philippines , no work, no school, so the people can go to the gravesites of the deceased loved ones )
b) Officialy, celebration starts on Dec. 16, at 5 AM, the start of the 9 – day Mass, called Misa de Gallo ( Mass at cock’s crow ). Filipinos go to Mass at 5 AM, everyday until Dec.24, …… then , another Mass at midnight of Christmas eve. Filipinos look forward to this, that’s why all the churches are full. I haven’t been to one, though I remember getting woken up by a loud but lively marching band playing Christmas music , ” marching ” around the subdivision, at 4 in the morning ! They are hired to wake everyone up , that’s the idea. lol
I am not exaggerating when I say the churches are full. lol
c) Then after the Midnight Eve mass, they eat a midnight meal with the family ( and friends /relatives ) , which they call Noche Buena ( Good Night ). So what are the traditional Filipino
Noche Buena dishes ?
Ham and Queso de Bola ( Edam Cheese )
Paella ( rice with shrimps, mussels, crab, chicken, etc )
Fruitcake…… I know we, in the US, make fun of this cake, but for some reason, Filipinos love it.. My mother tells that my grandma ( who has a baking business ) used to make thousands of fruitcakes every year . They were orders from the biggest drug company in the Philippines which were given as Christmas gifts to clients , usually huge food baskets. I did bake several loaves of fruitcakes for Thanksgiving….. we still have 2 left , saved for Christmas, one month after, ha ha ha . Eh. I brush the fruitcake with brandy once a week, and that’s a good thing, right ? He he
Ooooh, the glazed fruits, the nuts….. yum.
d) Lechon , if they can afford it. Here in the US, we make lechon kawali ( roasted pork belly )
And then the usual suspects…. the desserts….. leche flan , cassava cake, rice cakes, fruit salad, etc, etc. etc.
I’ll post our own Noche Buena after Christmas.
This is all for now. Merry Christmas !
And so I finish this up with another charming and joyful Philippine Holiday song… ( I can’t even pronounce the title …. it’s about the twinkling Christmas lights.
Am a Molecular Microbiology student, love to read books, and I play the violin. 
dreamsending
renxkyoko
renxkyoko's space 
Posted by A Pondering Mind on December 24, 2016 at 3:53 pm
Happy Holidays, Ren!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 24, 2016 at 4:40 pm
To you, as well ! ! Cheers !
Posted by Cassidy Frazee on December 24, 2016 at 3:54 pm
I want that pig!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 24, 2016 at 3:59 pm
Cassie , the skin is the best part, ooooh so crispy…… Merry Christmas ! ! Luv Ya !
Posted by Cassidy Frazee on December 24, 2016 at 4:13 pm
I know. It’s like that when you cook duck on a grill: it’s like eating a potato chip!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 24, 2016 at 9:05 pm
Heart attack food, ha ha ha !
Posted by John W. Howell on December 24, 2016 at 4:44 pm
A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Look forward to 2017
Posted by renxkyoko on December 24, 2016 at 9:06 pm
A merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you, too. Cheers ! ! !
Posted by John W. Howell on December 24, 2016 at 9:58 pm
🙂
Posted by esoofi on December 24, 2016 at 8:13 pm
Merry Christmas 🎄 Dear.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 24, 2016 at 9:07 pm
And to you, as well, esoofi . Cheers ! !
Posted by Gronda Morin on December 25, 2016 at 12:27 am
Dear Renxkyoko,
Thank you for the outstanding music.The Filipino Christmas celebration for days, is a wonderful tradition. I do hope that you are still having a joyous celebration.
Maligayang Pasko, Gronda
Posted by renxkyoko on December 27, 2016 at 5:27 am
At Manigong Bagong Taon ! Have a peaceful , prosperous 2017 ! ( despite everything, ugh )
Posted by disperser on December 25, 2016 at 2:26 am
Man, I get tired just reading about it. I just look forward to doing nothing. Come to think of it, that’s most days for me.
Merry Christmas.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 27, 2016 at 5:29 am
Have a happy and prosperous 2017, disperser. Cheers !
Posted by Steve.... on December 25, 2016 at 3:30 am
Merry Christmas dear….. 😘😘😘
Posted by renxkyoko on December 27, 2016 at 5:25 am
Have a prosperous and happy 2017 ! Cheers !
Posted by Steve.... on December 27, 2016 at 5:32 am
You too…..Cheers sweetie🍻😘😘😘
Posted by Krystallina on December 25, 2016 at 3:50 am
Merry Christmas!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 27, 2016 at 5:24 am
And to you, as well….. and a Happy 2017 to you !
Posted by Asha Seth on December 25, 2016 at 5:35 am
And to you, Renx. 🙂
Posted by Xena on December 25, 2016 at 6:07 am
Merry Christmas, Ren!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 27, 2016 at 5:23 am
And a Happy 2017 to you, Xena ! !
Posted by andy1076 on December 25, 2016 at 6:52 am
Leeechoooon………!!! ❤
Posted by renxkyoko on December 27, 2016 at 5:22 am
Yay ! !
Posted by Advo. R.R.'SAGAR' on December 25, 2016 at 1:23 pm
So Nice.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 27, 2016 at 5:21 am
Thank you !
Posted by Advo. R.R.'SAGAR' on December 27, 2016 at 5:33 am
Welcome.
Posted by robbinsrealm on December 25, 2016 at 5:15 pm
Happy Holidays!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 27, 2016 at 5:21 am
And a Prosperous 2017 to you ! Cheers !
Posted by sebbo12 on December 25, 2016 at 10:20 pm
Nice insight into Filipino Christmas. That music fits the mood perfectly 🙂 . Merry Christmas!
Posted by allenjambalaya on December 26, 2016 at 4:55 pm
It never occurred to me that pronouncing Kumukutikutitap is a struggle for some. It means twinkling. Sometimes, it’s unfair to translate a Filipino to English (in a good way for foreigners). Just like nakakapagpabagabag means troubling.
Maligayang pasko, Ren. 😊
Posted by renxkyoko on December 27, 2016 at 4:37 am
I asked my mother what it meant, she told me, but she herself couldn’t say the word in one go, and we laughed about that. She said she had never used that word herself. I don’t understand the words in the song except for a few like mata. ( eyes ) . Nakakapagpagabag ?????? What the heck ! Ha ha ha…. Do Filipinos actually use that word ?
Posted by allenjambalaya on December 27, 2016 at 4:49 am
Yes, we do. In tongue twisters. Hahaha. Try “pasko, paksiw”. See if you can pronounce it quick, ten times.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 27, 2016 at 5:19 am
I was okay the first two , then it went downhill , ha ha
Posted by Lee Devine on December 26, 2016 at 5:43 pm
Merry Christmas and have a happy new year….
Posted by renxkyoko on December 27, 2016 at 5:18 am
Have a happy New Year , Lee Devine ! !
Posted by joey on December 27, 2016 at 3:15 am
Well isn’t that neat? The religious devotion is astounding. Such early morning dedication! Wow.
The food looks and sounds wonderful 🙂 I like SOME fruitcake. It’s got to be just so. Picky picky, I am about fruitcake.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 27, 2016 at 6:34 am
I know. I didn’t experience that when I was in the Philippines… I was too young to go with my mother and older sister.
The Costco fruitcake is okay, but my grandma’s recipe tastes so much better…. it has less glazed fruits ( because the preserved fruits are expensive ) and more of the ” cake “, and it’s less sweet. Really great with coffee.
Posted by Deepak Singh on December 27, 2016 at 5:06 am
Christmas music was a delight. Happy New year to you, too.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 27, 2016 at 6:36 am
the music sounds really joyous….. and a happy New Year to you, as well.
Posted by Ankur Mithal on December 28, 2016 at 11:30 am
Wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 28, 2016 at 4:47 pm
And a Happy 2017 to you, as well !
Posted by Doraz on December 29, 2016 at 12:11 am
You have an amazing blog! Keep up the fun! Happy 2017!
Posted by renxkyoko on January 30, 2017 at 2:39 am
A bit late….. Thank you very much !
Posted by Rebecca Dawn on December 29, 2016 at 2:23 am
oh my lanta I wish I had been at your house! that pig looks so good!
I had chicken 2x in the same day! made the same way! once at lunch and at supper.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 29, 2016 at 7:51 am
Oh, I Googled that photo , it’s one of the images of Philippine Noche Buena feast. We do cook lechon, but just a pig’s belly…… the skin’s so crunchy and crispy, nevermind the fat overload, it’s so yummy.
Posted by Rebecca Dawn on December 29, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Hmm still pork!
Can’t go wrong with that!
Love crispy skin! 💕💕
Posted by Best Deals in Dubai on December 30, 2016 at 4:41 pm
“Happy New Year…
All to Best Wishes for You & Yours
May God Fulfill Your Every Desire In 2017.
Always Stay Happy. “
Posted by A. Blake on January 8, 2017 at 3:56 am
Wow, talk about a packed house at church – that was amazing.
Posted by autumnashbough on January 11, 2017 at 7:51 pm
Ha, my family always had edam on Christmas Day (it was a huge treat), but my husband is salivating over that pig. He’s Chinese, but grew up in Hawaii. Kalua pig is his favorite.
Thanks for sharing your Christmas traditions.
Posted by Gradmama2011 on January 29, 2017 at 5:14 pm
wow! I am starving after looking at your spread of food. Is the yellow color of the rice from Saffron? A friend made us paella once…and she looked everywhere in grocery stores for Saffron. Love your blog! and welcome to my blog! We share an opinion on he-who-shall-remain-nameless. 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on January 30, 2017 at 2:57 am
Saffron is super duper expensive. A pack of saffron the size of our littlest finger is about $ 14.00 so for the color we just add a bit of tomato sauce to the rice water, so the paella ‘s color is a bit reddish instead of yellowish.
Posted by Gradmama2011 on January 30, 2017 at 5:42 pm
when we had the paella party I mentioned my friend had to really search for the saffron. It was kept in a secure place in the grocery store’s office to prevent theft. 🙂 That paella was good!!!! My late husband’s margaritas were nearly as famous….
Posted by renxkyoko on January 30, 2017 at 6:48 pm
I’m sure your friend used a paella pan…. it’s huge, right ?
I’m assuming the saffron is both for flavoring and color. ( I don’t really what saffron tastes like. The paella rice I had in Spain didn’t really have any distinctive taste, just yellow color. But I could be wrong.
I think I’ll post a recipe of paella , Philippine version .
Posted by Gradmama2011 on January 31, 2017 at 8:25 pm
great idea, the recipe. What my friend used was a huge turkey roaster, an old blue-enamel two piece pan. She cooked the meats, chicken, seafood etc separately then combined it with the rice. It was yummy!
Posted by Gradmama2011 on January 30, 2017 at 5:57 pm
is saffron used for flavoring as well as color?
Posted by renxkyoko on January 30, 2017 at 6:42 pm
Hmmmm, I don’t know. For color, maybe ? I ate a lot of paellas when I was in Spain,( and though this is just my opinion, and taste buds, ha ha ha ,) I think Filipino paella tastes better. Filipinos call the dish Paella, Arroz a la Valenciana ( because the dish originated in Valencia , Spain, or Arroz a la Filipiniana, depending on the ingredients. Filipinos add more seafoods. ( because the Philippines are islands and surrounded by sea and ocean )
Posted by Gradmama2011 on January 31, 2017 at 8:29 pm
interesting…my friend was from El Salvador.we met in a Spanish class at the community college several years ago