This Or That: Which Filipino Christmas Tradition Do You Love Most?

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Celebrating Christmas in the Philippines is a one-of-a-kind experience, especially with all of our awesome traditions that further set the season’s festive mood. From the first day of September which signals the start of holiday preparations to the extended celebration until January, there are several meaningful practices and activities that we observe with our loved ones to commemorate the birth of Christ and celebrate our faith, friends, and family.

Out of all the local traditions that bring cheers and positivity throughout the season, which ones make you feel the Christmas magic best? Which ones give you the feeling of joy, warmth, and togetherness of the holidays? As December gets nearer, here’s a rundown of Christmas traditions that every Filipino would answer to those questions.

The kids’ Christmas carols


“Pasko na Naman,” “Christmas in our Hearts,” and “All I Want for Christmas is You” are just some of the festive tunes you’d hear on the streets once the caroling season rolls in. This local holiday tradition, which dates back to the Spanish colonization era, is often performed by neighborhood kids as a way to earn extra coins and cash or simply to spend quality time with their friends. Aside from your karaoke-trained voices, you can also bring instruments like guitars and tambourines or carry portable Bluetooth speakers to blast background music instead.

The Mi Compact Bluetooth Speaker 2 produces clear and powerful sounds thanks to its super-strong neodymium magnets. Despite being compact enough to fit in your pocket, this lightweight device can play music uninterrupted for up to 6 hours and its reliable Bluetooth connectivity makes it compatible with any smartphone. Get the Mi Compact Bluetooth Speaker 2 now for only P599 at Mi in SM Megamall.

Noche buena with the family


The Filipino way of counting down to Christmas is sharing a hearty midnight feast with our families on Christmas eve. Although holiday ham and queso de bola are two of the most common food you’d see on Noche Buena spreads, there is no fixed menu for this pre-Christmas feast and it mostly depends on your family’s tastes, budget, and tradition. 

If you prefer to order food this year, the Shakey's Family Meal Deal 2 is an excellent Noche Buena option with one large pizza, a pasta platter, a Buddy Pack Chicken 'n' Fries, and 1.5L Coke included in the bundle. This family meal deal is good for 5 to 6 people, so there’s enough food to share with everyone until the clock strikes 12. Get the ​​Family Meal Deal 2 at a starting price of P1,829 until November 27 at Shakey’s in SM City San Jose Del Monte.

Simbang gabi—plus the food trip


Have you ever heard of the popular Christmas belief that completing all nine days of Simbang Gabi will make your wishes come true? While we can’t verify this *magical* claim, we’re sure that Filipinos attend this series of nine evening masses that lead up to Christmas eve to show their devotion to Christ. 

After attending mass, most churchgoers seek the delicious kakanin delicacies that are often sold outside churches during the holidays. Puto or Filipino steamed rice cakes are one of the most popular kakanin served after Simbang Gabi, alongside other classics like bibingka and suman. These kakanin treats, which are always served hot and freshly cooked, often get paired with tea or coffee for additional comfort during cold holiday nights.

If you can’t find kakanin stalls outside your local church or simply want to recreate the Simbang Gabi experience anytime and anywhere, you can order Goldilocks’ Ube Cheese Puto which combines the goodness of purple yam and cheese toppings in a bite-sized treat. Available for only P120 per pack at Goldilocks in SM City Batangas until January 8, this kakanin treat is delightfully soft and chewy like the traditional puto.

To complete the experience, you can pair it with Dunkin's Hot Spanish Latte which costs only P110 per cup at all Dunkin branches in SM malls until December 31. This freshly brewed coffee is made of bold espresso, scalded milk, and creamy condensada, which makes it a bit sweeter than regular lattes.

Lighting up a Christmas parol


You know it’s already Christmas season in the Philippines when you see homes and establishments displaying the parol, or star-shaped Christmas lanterns with colorful lights that illuminate streets at night. We even celebrate the existence of this truly Filipino Christmas symbol through the annual Giant Lantern Festival, which takes place in Pampanga during December.

The common and traditional parol is often made of capiz, plastic, or fiberglass and uses candles or LED lights. But if you’re scared of increasing your electric bill, you can instead opt for ornamental star-shaped wreaths like this Christmas Star Parol from The SM Store. Get it now for only P699 at SM City Bicutan until November 30.

The exciting exchange gift


No local Christmas celebration is complete without an exchange gift event. There are many variations of this holiday tradition, such as the Kris Kringle and Monito-Monita which both require you to keep your identity a secret from the recipient of your gift. Exchange gift events may have wishlists to help the “secret Santas” find a nice present for their giftee, or a certain budget may be set so that everyone receives gifts with fair value.

If you need a gift under P1,000 for this year’s Kris Kringle or Monito-Monita, check out this Hand Balm Gift Set that you can get at The Body Shop in SM City Baguio for only P895 until November 30. This bundle includes three hand balms that are perfect for moisturizing and softening the skin: Almond, Avocado, and Shea. All three hand balms provide hydration and nourishment that will help even the busiest hands feel smooth and silky soft, making it a perfect gift for anyone on your gift list.

A great time for family vacation


Since Christmas also often means school break for the kids and a time to use up remaining vacation leaves for the working adults, most families set their out-of-town trips around the holiday season. After all, unwinding and enjoying quality time with family would always be a great way to spend Christmas. 

For as low as P3,599, 2GO lets you set a family vacation to Cebu with fun activities like cliff jumping and snorkeling at Bantayan Islands and a 3-day stay at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. This budget-friendly package rate is for a minimum of 2 persons, inclusive of one-way 2GO all-in-fare plus 3 days and 2 nights hotel stay. Check out this vacation package now at any 2GO branch in SM malls, because it’s available until December 31 only.

Make this year’s Christmas celebration extra special by observing meaningful local traditions with the help of great deals that you can enjoy at SM malls. For more exciting deals and discounts, visit SM Deals or download the SM Malls Online app.