| The Filipinos are considered a simple and happy | | | | long illness, or simply when a family likes to just thank |
| people. This is evidenced by the fact that many | | | | God for the many blessings that have been bestowed |
| Filipinos love to celebrate for any reason even with | | | | on them. |
| meager resources. | | | | Celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, even death |
| The cheerful disposition of Filipinos may sometimes | | | | anniversaries, baptisms or christening, Christmas and |
| surprise and strike the foreigner as a lack of | | | | Easter, are standard celebrations which include the |
| seriousness but upon knowing more about the | | | | entire extended family. For example, I would not be |
| customs in the Philippines, one would understand that | | | | surprised if suddenly, all my relatives visit my home |
| cheerfulness is a part the country's culture. | | | | during my birthday or when they come over for |
| Family bonds are strong in the Filipinos. If ever there | | | | Christmas. |
| are reasons to celebrate a certain occasion, no matter | | | | Celebrating Christmas in the Philippines is probably the |
| how insignificant, Filipinos take the opportunity to have | | | | longest in the entire world. The spirit of Christmas |
| reunions and family gatherings. These celebrations | | | | usually fills the air during the "ber" months -- |
| include not just the immediate family but other relatives | | | | September, October, November and December, and |
| as well, such as uncles, aunties, cousins, nephews, | | | | usually until the first few weeks of January. |
| nieces, and grandparents. | | | | Come September, one would already hear Christmas |
| For example, Filipinos love to celebrate different | | | | carols being aired over the radio. Malls and department |
| occasions that include, among other occasions, the | | | | stores would start their "Christmas" sale and some |
| passing of a state board examination of a member of | | | | would even go as far as having Christmas decorations |
| the family, job promotions, "bienvenidas" or "welcome | | | | by September. |
| back" celebrations (e.g. the arrival of someone after | | | | Everyone looks forward to Christmas as this would be |
| working some time in another country), "despedidas" or | | | | a great occasion to visit families in the province, |
| "send-off or farewell parties", such as when a family | | | | especially if someone spends the entire year working |
| member would live or work abroad, and even town | | | | in a distant city. Many companies usually go on |
| fiestas, where an entire town celebrates the feast of | | | | vacation beginning a week before Christmas, |
| its patron saint. | | | | December 25, until the first week of January. |
| Filipinos love fiestas. "Fiesta" means feast and this | | | | During the Christmas season, it is not unusual for |
| custom was adapted from the Spaniards, who | | | | someone to attend several Christmas parties. There is |
| introduced Christianity in the Philippines. The fiesta is an | | | | a Christmas party with office friends, another party |
| occasion to give thanks for all the blessings that a | | | | with high school classmates or even university |
| town has received. | | | | batchmates, parties with the members of one's sports |
| Of course, Filipinos also love to celebrate thanksgiving | | | | club, company sponsored parties, and of course, |
| parties, such as when a family member got cured of a | | | | several family Christmas parties. |