Christmas in
The Philippines
"Maligayan Pasko!"
Christmas celebrations in the Philippines begin the week before Christmas with a church service called the Misa de Gallo. At this mass the Christmas story of Christ's birth is read from the bible. On Christmas Eve the Panunuluyan (a pageant) is held. Two people pretend to be Mary and Joseph looking for a place to stay in Bethlehem. On Christmas Day another church service ends with a star sliding down a wire from the roof of the church and stopping over the church's belen (crib or Nativity scene).
The parol or star lantern is the most popular Christmas symbol in the Philippines. It is seen everywhere. It is made from bamboo, string, starch and rile paper. The five-point lantern represents the star of Bethlehem.
