Christmas season in the Philippines...!!!

Christmas season! The most awaited and exciting holiday in the Philippines. Once the month of September started, different kinds and styles of Philippine christmas lanterns called"parol" would be hang on every Filipino homes.

As early as September through October people are beginning to look for christmas ornaments, adornments and trimmings. Others are just be contented setting up their old christmas trees adorning them with colourful and glittering christmas balls, ribbons, bells and chains. Lanterns are taken out and displayed outdoors of every Filipino homes, offices, schools, shopping malls and even streets are adorned with these multi-coloured lanterns. You may find mini lanterns hang on buses, jeepney's and cars too.

Christmas or "Pasko" is the most awaited celebration and the happiest event in the Philippines. This is also the time of the year when family get together, especially when family members from overseas come home with lots of gifts "Pasalubong", exchanging gifts and the family feast highlight the most loved celebration.

What makes the Filipino Christmas unique? Well, Filipinos have a lot of christmas tradition which makes us different from the other, here are some of them...

• Parol is a traditional Filipino christmas decoration, a five point star-shaped christmas lantern. Originally made of thin bamboo frames and covered with coloured plastic or with Japanese paper. It has two tails that serve as the rays of the star.
• Parol represents the Filipino innovation, creativity and it's the greatest expression of christmas spirit.
• Parol making is not only a christmas symbol, it is a sign of hope for lots of parol makers. Parol making business is a source of income for lots of Filipinos. They make parol as early as June, a lot of them are sold in the market from October. Parol vendors can be found everywhere, you can see them on the side walks, bus stops, jeepney stops or even along the highway.

Christmas in the Philippines is filled with unique family oriented traditions. It is the most important holiday in the country and in every Christian family. Christmas is even more important than one's own birthday. Being a predominately christian country, where most people are Roman Catholics, Filipinos truly keep Christ in heart in christmas. The celebrations are all centered on family and commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.