December 2025
“Whenever I see girls and boys
Selling lanterns on the streets
I remember the Child
In the manger, as he sleeps
Wherever there are people
Giving gifts, exchanging cards
I believe that Christmas
Is truly in their hearts”
– Jose Mari Chan
The holidays are here and we hope you all are having a wonderful end to 2025! Whether you’re visiting home or staying in Japan, there is plenty of reason to have that warm Christmas feeling in your heart. Speaking of which, perhaps no country has it more than the Philippines. So, this month we sat down with Mark, Krystel, and Celine to discuss what makes Christmas in the Philippines so special. Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat!
🇵🇭 Philippines -> 🍊 Matsuyama
Mark Joey
(Davao Oriental)
Krystel Jane Saavedra
(Cebu)
Celine Santos
(Guimaras)
Mark
What’s a Filipino Christmas memory that makes you smile every year?
When I was a kid, I used to go caroling with my friends a lot. We’d walk around our little village with our DIY tambourines made from bottle caps — they looked rough, but we were proud of them. Our mission was basically to hit every doorstep and collect as many coins as possible for fun.
We tried to sing in tune, but there was always that one friend who threw off the rhythm (I won’t say it was me… but also, it could’ve been me, who knows). Even with all our “practice,” we still sounded like a chaotic mini-choir, but people gave us coins anyway.
At the end of the night, we’d dump all the coins on the floor, split everything, and buy ourselves little treats. It was simple, messy, and honestly just really fun. It still makes me smile when I think about it.
How did your Christmas celebrations change as you grew older?
Honestly, Christmas got quieter as I grew up. When you’re a kid, everything about it feels massive. The lights, the food, the excitement. You’re running around, singing songs, and staying up way too late. It’s loud and thrilling all at once.
As I got older, the vibe shifted. Christmas became more about slowing down, enjoying simple pleasures, and spending time with people you care about. It’s about family dinners, rewatching a childhood Christmas movie (or that one Christmas episode of your favorite sitcom), and maybe grabbing drinks with friends. The chaos is still there, but in a much softer, funnier way.
I think now, it’s less about the spectacle and more about the moments you actually remember. And honestly, the real miracle is making it through the holidays without falling asleep before midnight. 😅
What’s on your Christmas wishlist this year?
Just a cozy Christmas. Good food, warm drinks, chill days, and zero stress.
Plus a new winter jacket. Or three. Because winter always wins. 😅
What does “Paskong Pinoy” mean to you
personally?
For me, Paskong Pinoy is all about warmth—not the weather, but the feeling people bring. It’s in the lights on small houses, kids singing carols, neighbors sharing extra food, and families all crammed into one room.
It’s funny and a little chaotic, but that’s exactly what makes it feel real. I think that we tend to go all out, even in small ways, just to make the season brighter.
Basically, it’s just too much karaoke and way too much food. And somehow, that’s already perfect for us.
Why do you think Filipinos love
celebrating Christmas so early and for so long?
Filipinos start celebrating Christmas in the “Ber months” (September through December), which is way earlier than most countries. Stores put up decorations, radio stations start playing Christmas songs, and suddenly everyone switches to holiday mood.
But I think it’s not just commercial—it’s cultural. Life can be heavy sometimes, and Christmas is a time to hold onto joy. Filipinos are good at making the ordinary festive through sharing food, singing songs, and finding joy in little things. So why wait? I mean, if you can start celebrating early and keep it going for months, why not? 😅
How do you celebrate Christmas if you’re away from family or abroad?
Being away from home changes the vibe a bit, but I try to make my own version of Filipino Christmas. I play Christmas songs on Spotify, cook whatever Filipino dishes I can manage, and video call family and close friends even if the timing is random.
It’s not the same as being there in person, but hearing voices and seeing familiar faces brings warmth and connection. Even without decorations or big gatherings, I can feel the spirit of Paskong Pinoy through music, food, and family, because for me, the feeling of being “home” is portable. It travels with you, as long as you keep on keeping the vibe alive.
How do Filipinos keep the Christmas spirit alive even during hard times?
Filipinos keep the spirit alive by sticking together. Back home, I noticed that even when life gets tough, people find reasons to laugh, share food, and check in on each other. Someone cracks a joke, someone sings, someone cooks extra for neighbors. It’s chaotic, silly, and somehow makes sense.
I think that the Christmas spirit survives because it doesn’t rely on perfect circumstances. It’s carried by the people.
Krystel
How does your family usually celebrate Christmas in the Philippines?
My family usually celebrates Christmas at my grandparents’ house, where we gather with my aunts, uncles, and cousins for a big Christmas party. On Christmas Eve, we attend church before midnight, then return home to continue the celebration. Karaoke fills the house as we sing our way through the night until the countdown. We also play games, with small prizes that add to the fun. When the clock strikes twelve, we take a moment to show respect and appreciation to one another—kissing my parents on the cheek, doing mano po to my aunts, uncles, and especially my grandparents. After that, we share Noche Buena, a traditional Filipino Christmas Eve meal, before exchanging gifts and ending the night on a joyful, familiar note.
What is your favorite Filipino tradition?
There are many Christmas traditions in the Philippines, but Noche Buena stands out to me because it brings everything together. It happens at midnight, when anticipation peaks and everyone pauses at the same moment. After church, games, music, and long conversations, the meal becomes a shared reset—where people sit down, eat, and simply enjoy each other’s company. More than the food, Noche Buena represents intention. It’s not squeezed into a busy day; it’s waited for. That shared waiting, followed by eating together, captures what Christmas feels like to me—unhurried, communal, and quietly meaningful.
When do you start decorating for Christmas? (Be honest – September, right?)
The Philippines is known for having the longest Christmas season in the world, traditionally lasting from September to January. In recent years, the celebrations have started even earlier. In my family’s case, we began decorating our house as early as late August this year. This isn’t just out of excitement; Christmas in the Philippines is less about the date and more about the feeling it brings. Decorating early extends that sense of warmth, hope, and togetherness, making the long anticipation part of what gives the season meaning.
What does “Paskong Pinoy” mean to you
personally?
Paskong Pinoy means a kind of warmth that comes from shared presence rather than grand gestures. To me, it’s about family, open homes, and celebrations that naturally extend to friends and communities. It reflects a generosity that doesn’t keep score and a sense of togetherness that makes Christmas feel less like an event and more like a shared experience—one that stays with you long after the season ends.
What is the most Filipino thing about Christmas in the Philippines?
The most Filipino thing about Christmas is how deeply it centers on family and community. Celebrations are rarely private or small. Christmas parties happen at schools, among friends and friends of friends, within barangays and neighborhoods, among coworkers, and across entire companies. The celebration keeps expanding, reaching anyone who happens to be part of your circle. In the Philippines, Christmas rarely asks who you are—it simply makes space for you.
What does Christmas “feel” like to you? (Describe it with colors, smells, or sounds!)
Christmas feels warm and familiar to me. It sounds like soft Christmas music in the background, laughter drifting from another room, karaoke echoing late into the night, and fireworks lighting up the sky when the clock strikes twelve. It smells like home-cooked food prepared for Noche Buena and the faint sweetness of holiday treats. Visually, it’s a mix of glowing lights, colorful parols, and rooms filled with people rather than decorations—creating a feeling that’s less about spectacle and more about comfort and belonging.
How do you make the Philippines “feel” like winter even without snow?
The Philippines doesn’t make Christmas feel like winter in the literal sense, because it doesn’t need to. Without snow or cold weather, the “winter feeling” comes from atmosphere rather than temperature—and that atmosphere is intentionally created. It’s in the early Christmas music, the glowing parols, crowded night markets, and the sense of anticipation that builds over months. Cooler evenings, holiday lights, and familiar traditions create a seasonal rhythm of their own. Instead of winter, the Philippines creates a feeling of warmth and togetherness. Christmas there feels less like a change in weather and more like a shift in spirit—and that’s what makes it distinct.
What Christmas song instantly brings you back to your childhood?
“Christmas in Our Hearts” by Jose Mari Chan instantly brings me back to my childhood. I heard it everywhere growing up—from shopping malls and jeepneys to restaurants and the radio—but what makes it personal for me is hearing it played through my father’s loudspeakers on a Sunday afternoon. Over time, the song became tied to my own memories of home and family, turning it into a familiar presence rather than just a seasonal hit.
Celine
How does your family usually celebrate Christmas in the Philippines?
My brother’s birthday is on December 24th, so it’s usually a double celebration with family. Usually, we all gather in our family house on the island of Guimaras and we make food! We sometimes play games, say our prayers and eat food! A tradition among me and my siblings, especially with my brother, is watching Lord of the Rings–the long version of all the movies, yes!
Staple Christmas food in our family would be Christmas cake, sweetened ham, pancit molo (a Filipino pork dumpling soup that is famous in Iloilo. Fun fact: My city is named a Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO because of our food!!) and bread! Sometimes my mom would make the best ube jam!
What’s your favorite Filipino Christmas tradition?
Whenever I spent Christmases in Manila as a kid, I loved going door-to-door and singing Christmas Carols with my cousins. We would practice songs and go around the neighborhood with our handmade instruments. I say that is my favorite because I get to be out on the streets and witness the Christmas rush day-to-day.
What Christmas song instantly brings you back to your childhood?
Oh my, definitely Christmas in our Hearts by Jose Mari Chan! When I was a kid, I would wake up to this song being played all around the house, and it immediately sets the Christmas vibe for me whenever or wherever it’s played up until today.
How did your Christmas celebrations change as you grew older?
One of the traditions that I loved as a kid was receiving money. Every Christmas day, I would wake up to red envelopes or “ang pao” with my and my cousin’s names beautifully handwritten by Lola (“Lola” is how we call our grandmothers in the Philippines). Inside the red envelopes is cash!!
Well, now that we’re all grown, we would exchange gifts more because my cousins and I are all grown-up now. It would’ve been nice to still receive the cash gifts! But also now that I’m older, I get to reflect more on the things I am blessed with, things I can be grateful for–and I personally believe that that makes traditions more meaningful now than when I was a kid.
How do you celebrate Christmas if you’re away from family or abroad?
This will be my third Christmas away from home, and it’s been very different celebrating it here because back home, I never really spend Christmas with friends, it’s always with family.
But for the past three years, I tried my best to stay in touch with the people I consider my community and spend Christmas eve with them–even share with each other the things that we’re all grateful for. With that I realized how much spending meaningful time with people has made Christmas genuinely feel like home.
Happy holidays from the maga(ZINE) team! This year has been amazing for the entire blog. From creative ZINEs to amazing articles, we are so thankful for everyone who has contributed to making 2025 the best one yet. We can’t wait to bring you even more great content in 2026 so until then, merry Christmas. 🎄
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