What a Filipino Christmas is??

On Christmas eve, family members partake of a sumptuous Filipino meal by twelve midnight, called noche buena. This usually comes after the entire family has attended a late evening mass or church service about an hour or so before midnight. The typical noche buena foods prepared on the table are: lechon, pancit, fried chicken, lumpia, rice, adobo, among others for the main course; desserts include halo-halo, rice cakes, ice cream, patries and cakes; drinks include soda, wine, beer, juice.

Noche buena is also an opportunity for family get together, opening of Christmas gifts, singing and story-telling. It is also a chance for kids to earn some money aside from toy gifts. In some homes, it is also one way to welcome the less-fortunate by inviting orphans or poor people to join in the Christmas celebration. Some carolers who raise funds for civic organizations are also welcomed and given donations (in cash or kind) into the home.

The noche buena could last until about four o'clock in the morning on Christmas day. The whole family will again attend mass or church service during the morning. When they go back home, the salu-salo (partaking of the meal) will continue. It is during Christmas day that some inaanak (godchildren) visit their ninong (godfather) and ninang (godmother). It is also the day for some families to hold grand reunions of extended family clan members (grandparents, grandchildren, cousins, uncles and aunts).