When the calendar flips to September, the Philippines begins a peculiar and colourful season called the Ber Months. From September until December, this season sets off the opening of the Christmas season with an incredible mix of festive traditions, collective activities, and holiday preparations.
Filipinos are warm and elaborate when celebrating occasions. Here’s how they prepare for the holiday season, including modern twists like online gaming.
Embracing Traditional Preparations and Festivities
When September comes in, Jose Mari Chan starts to sing, “Whenever I see girls and boys…” Houses and public places also begin to look Christmas-like: bright lights, colourful parols, star-shaped lanterns, and festive ornaments are familiar sights. Filipinos are proud to decorate their homes, usually starting from the inside and extending to the outside to create a joyous atmosphere.
Preparations also involve community events and traditional practices. Schools, churches, and local organizations have events like “Simbang Gabi”, or pre-dawn masses, that start early in December and continue until Christmas Eve. They also plan to celebrate the holiday season with Monito-Monita, the Filipino version of exchanging gifts.
Planning and Preparing Holiday Feasts
Another staple of the Ber Months is preparing special, elaborate holiday feasts. Filipino Christmas celebrations are noted for their grand and varied food delights, and families start thinking about what dishes to serve several months in advance. You will get excited to have traditional dishes such as lechon, or roast pig, bibingka, a rice cake, and puto bumbong, a purple rice cake. What a delicious feast!
The holiday season is also a time for reunions and family gatherings. Filipinos ensure that they can be with each other, sometimes travelling from other parts of the country or even from abroad to celebrate with their loved ones.
Adding Modern Taste to Holiday Celebrations
As much as traditional practices are at the core of the Ber Months, modern elements successfully find their place in Filipino celebrations. Reunions are exciting with games for cousins, such as Mobile Games or Genshin Impact. For adults, online platforms and online casinos Philippines, like Bet88, open more options for them to enjoy their spare time during festivities. It is such a good element for entertainment that unites families as they share their interests.
These days, celebrations also call for essential roles played by digital tools and social media. Filipinos send greetings over these platforms, join virtual parties, and even participate in online charity causes.
Setting New Goals for the Upcoming Year
Reflecting and setting goals are mostly part of holiday preparations. They give more meaning to the season as people set their “New Year’s Resolutions.” For example, a person could plan to start a new exercise regimen at the beginning of the year or set a goal to acquire a new hobby or skill.
Wrapping Up
The holiday season is the most authentic manifestation of Filipino culture and jollier-than-life spirits. For us, the headway into the Christmas Season means the traditional and modern combination can be deliciously eclectic! It is the time of the year that Filipinos celebrate with warmth and enthusiasm as the season carries on.