Pasko

Pasko is the Filipino term for Christmas, widely used across the Philippines. The word is derived from the Spanish Pascua and has come to denote the Christmas season and its celebrations in Filipino culture.

The Philippines hosts one of the longest Christmas celebrations in the world. Many communities begin observing the season in the ber months—September through December—and extend festivities into January. Central to the celebrations are Catholic liturgical observances, family gatherings, and community events that emphasize both religious devotion and social togetherness.

Key traditions include Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo, a series of nine dawn masses leading up to Christmas Day; Noche Buena, the Christmas Eve feast; and the display of parol, star-shaped lanterns. Other common practices are caroling, Panunuluyan (a Christmas Eve play about Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter), and the dawn Salubong ritual that re-enacts the meeting of the infant Jesus with Mary on Christmas morning.

Regional and household variations influence the celebration, including festive foods such as bibingka and puto bumbong, as well as dishes like lechon, ham, and queso de bola. Decorations typically feature lanterns, Christmas trees, and nativity displays, reflecting both Catholic tradition and local customs.

Historically, Pasko reflects Spanish Catholic influence introduced during the colonial era, which blended with Filipino social norms to produce a distinctive, community-centered Christmas culture. The season remains a major focal point of religious observance and public festivity in the Philippines.