The Philippines celebrates the longest Christmas season in the world. Carols start playing in September, the first of the "-ber" months, and the celebrations last until early January. If you visit in December, you will see a side of the country most travellers never expect.
Parols and lights
The parol, a star-shaped lantern, is the symbol of Filipino Christmas. You will see them in every window, street and church, from simple paper stars to huge illuminated ones. In Pampanga, north of Manila, the city of San Fernando holds a famous Giant Lantern Festival in December.
Simbang Gabi
From 16 to 24 December, many Filipinos attend a series of nine dawn masses called Simbang Gabi. Outside the churches, stalls sell bibingka, a rice cake cooked over charcoal, and puto bumbong, a purple sticky rice dessert. Even if you do not attend mass, going early for the food is a lovely way to see local life.
Noche Buena
Christmas Eve is the big night. Families gather after midnight for Noche Buena, a feast with ham, queso de bola, lechón and spaghetti with a sweet sauce. New Year's Eve is just as lively, with fireworks, noise and twelve round fruits on the table for luck.
Travelling at Christmas: what to know
- It is the busiest time of the year for domestic travel. Flights, ferries and the best small hotels sell out early, so book 4 to 6 months ahead.
- Prices are higher between about 20 December and 5 January.
- Many Filipinos travel home to their families, so airports and ports are crowded around 23 to 25 December and 30 December to 1 January. Avoid travel days on those dates if you can.
Where to spend it
- Manila for the lights, the food and the dawn masses before flying to the islands.
- Palawan for a warm, beach Christmas with a private boat day.
- Siargao for a relaxed, barefoot New Year.
- Bohol and Siquijor for something calmer, away from the crowds.
Our advice
Spend Christmas Eve in one place rather than travelling, and plan the long journeys before 20 December or after 2 January. We will build the trip around the dates that matter to you.
