The Filipino Christmas is truly a sight to behold; every year, Filipinos gather round to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ through traditions such as Simbang Gabi and Noche Buena. Even abroad, the spirit of Filipino Christmas lives on through the initiatives of various Filipino embassies around the world – ensuring that all Filipinos, whether overseas or in the motherland, stay connected to the warmth and joy of the festive season.
The Filipino spirit of Christmas transcends borders and is very much alive with the support of the Philippine embassies in Norway, Lebanon, Mexico, and Canada, to name a few.
PH Embassy in Norway
Despite the miles, the beauty of the age-old Filipino Christmas has found a home in Norway. “In Norwegian tradition, they start the Christmas celebration a week before [December 25] and they gather only the core members of the families,” Ambassador Enrico Fos shared in an interview with Good News Pilipinas. “Together with the [Filipino] community, we introduce the concept that it should be a long celebration.”
The Philippine Embassy in Norway kicked off the holiday season with their flagship event Paskong Pinoy, a choral festival featuring different Christian churches. “We gathered something like 700 Filipinos all around Oslo and neighboring towns,” Fos continued.
The embassy also served Christmas dinner to newly-arrived Filipino au pairs and students. “The idea is for us to provide them with dinner, and the service crew would be the embassy people. And then, meron kaming palaro [and] prizes (And then we have games [and] prizes.),” he described.
The ambassador continued that the Christmas dinner was designed in such a way that young people can network with their peers. “These [au pairs] are the people na by the time you’re six months, seven months, malungkot ka na eh, tapos di ka makauwi, kasi your contract is two years,” Fos stated. “And then, nung bagong dating ka dito, wala kang network and everything. So, para makita nila yung glimpse na may dinner din kami pala, hindi lang ako mag-isa sa Christmas time [or] mag-isa nagd-dinner sa kwarto ko.”
(These [au pairs] are the people who by the time you’re six months, seven months, you’re already sad, and you can’t go home, because your contract is two years. And then, when you first arrived here, you didn’t have a network and everything. So, for them to see the glimpse that we also have dinner, I’m not alone at Christmas time [or] alone having dinner in my room.)
To truly cap off the Filipino Christmas season, the embassy further sponsored a Simbang Gabi mass. “We have a Filipino chaplaincy here, the Catholic Church Chaplaincy,” he recalled. “The Simbang Gabi here is in the evening. In winter kasi, the sun sets at about 3 o’clock [in the afternoon]. So, by the time na ready na yung mga tao magsimba [at] around 6, mukhang gabing-gabi na dito, ang dilim-dilim na. So it starts at 6 [or] 7, and then there’s a little kainan and networking for another hour
(Because in winter, the sun sets at about 3 o’clock [in the afternoon]. So, by the time the people are ready to go to church [at] around 6, it looks like it’s late here, it’s already dark. So it starts at 6 [or] 7, and then there’s a little dinner and networking for another hour.)
Beyond this, the ambassador mentioned that the Embassy is actively attending the Christmas parties of various Filipino organizations in Norway. “As much as possible, we are trying to connect to the Filipinos. The idea is to bring the embassy closer to them para di sila mahiya maglapit satin pag may kailangan sila,” Fos continued.
(The idea is to bring the embassy closer to them so that they will not be shy to approach us when they need something.)
PH Embassy in Mexico
The Bayanihan spirit was truly felt by Filipinos in Mexico this Christmas! Over 50 Filipinos attended a Christmas celebration led by the Philippine Embassy in Mexico. “The program highlighted the spirit of love and gratitude through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided by Fr. Jeffrey Yague Udasco, fun-filled games for kids and adults, gift-giving and a potluck lunch,” the embassy said in a Facebook post.
PH Embassy in Lebanon
Check out how Filipinos’ festive cheer filled Beirut! Filipinos were given the chance to share their unique holiday traditions in Lebanese Diaspora Village’s annual Christmas Village. In tandem with the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon, the Filipino community set up different booths promoting Filipino Christmas desserts, cultural handicrafts, tourism, and even parol-making! During the Christmas Village program, Filipinos caroled and performed folk dances.
In a Facebook post, the embassy noted, “The embassy’s hosting of this year’s Christmas Village not only brings Philippine yuletide traditions closer to Filipinos in Lebanon, but also to Lebanese locals and foreign visitors. It highlights the shared traditions of Christian communities from both countries.”
PH Embassy in Canada
Who says the Simbang Gabi tradition has to end in the Philippines? Filipinos flocked to the Assumption Parish Church in Ottawa to celebrate Simbang Gabi this year, with the 2nd day of the novena mass sponsored by the Philippine Embassy in Canada.
Beyond the Christmas Season
Despite the distance, the Filipino Christmas spirit endures, forging connections and creating lasting memories for all Filipinos, wherever they may be. Even when Christmas comes to a close, the Filipino community’s bond remains strong thanks to the projects of Filipino embassies such as that in Norway. Recalling the 52,000 Filipinos in the Scandinavian country, Fos said, “Ang ginagawa namin in my second year here [as an ambassador] is to go around the country and [visit Filipino] organizations… just to connect with them [and] make [ourselves] accessible.” He mentioned that most Filipino collectives in Norway are grouped according to geographic origin, churches, or cultural interests.
(What we did in my second year here [as an ambassador] is to go around the country and [visit Filipino] organizations… just to connect with them [and] make [ourselves] accessible.)
Noting that many overseas Filipinos are interested in national news, Fos expressed that he is urging his constituents to create projects in the Philippines, such as donations to their charities. “It’s really encouraged to exercise and concretize your patriotic feelings for the country. I think yun yung mas matibay kasi na pundasyon para dun sa unity na pagkakaisa ng mga Pilipino dito… yung pagmamahal sa bayan na Pilipinas,” he ended.
(I think that is the stronger foundation for the unity of Filipinos here… the love for the people of the Philippines.)
Read about the other initiatives of Filipino embassies all around the world! In 2020, the Philippine Embassy in Spain taught the Filipino ancient form of writing Baybayin to expats. That year, Philippine embassies and consulates also celebrated Christmas traditions abroad via online concerts, programs, and outreach activities.
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