Christmas: Anthropological Perspective

501 Words3 Pages
BE A BLESSING Celebration of Christmas day roots itself to the birth of Jesus as the long-awaited Saviour who has the power to save and redeem man from sin. Over centuries, people from every race, ethnicity and culture, banks on the fact that the certainty of the coming of Jesus was real and valid. As a tradition, people are commemorating his birth every year through fellowshipping with feasts, food, and masses, especially those who are religiously under the believing faith of Christianism. Thus proves, that respect and norms of conformity of one culture from the past has of great influence up to people in the future, though there are some shifts influenced by modern culture over time. In Filipino culture, we are known for having the longest Christmas season. The ber-months are considered Christmas months, that explains why stores and households start displaying Christmas decorations. We have our parol, a Christmas lantern, shape of a five-pointed star. Made up of bamboo or rattan frame covered with rice paper or cellophane. Traditionally, a candle is placed inside for light to shine through, but others now use bulbs. We also have pamasko, Aguinaldo where children would visit their godparents and elderly relatives on Christmas morning. Filipinos begin a novena (a series of nine masses) on December 16th. The masses are part of the cherished religious tradition of Simbang Gabi, Filipinos go to church at four o’clock in the morning and afterward have breakfast together. A traditional drink during this season is a warm ginger tea called salabat and a traditional treat is a flat but thick yellow rice cake called bibingka. What every Filipino looks forward to is Noche Buena, the grand family dinner after the midnight mass. Christmas morning is the time for visiting relatives. Filipinos wear new if not their best clothes. As for me, I’m not really into Simbang

More about Christmas: Anthropological Perspective

Open Document