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Top Things to Do on Christmas Eve 2017
Check out the best things to do on the eve of this much-awaited day.
By: Patricia Marie Prado | December 24, 2017
With a country that is predominantly Christian, Christmas is without a doubt one of the most awaited holidays in the country. But aside from the extra days off at work and school, have you ever wondered what makes it so special for us Filipinos?
Last week we asked our readers about their top things to do every Christmas Eve and now the results are in. Check out what makes Christmas a standout among other holidays and see if you’ll relate to any of these items.
4. Bond with Family
Spending time with your family during the holidays is always time well spent. (Image: @sabrina_bartholomew)
To start our list, bonding with the family is among the top activity in our country during Christmas Eve. Here in the Philippines the saying “blood is thicker than water” is not enough to describe our loyalty to our families. And Christmas season is one of the most awaited holidays of the year for Filipino families as this is the time when everyone gathers together in one place.
But more than the cheers and laughter that these reunions bring, spending time together with the family has other great benefits. Aside from building lasting memories, quality time with the family also helps children feel loved and important and even perform better academically, according to South University [1].
3. Exchange Gifts
Share your blessing and make someone happier this Christmas. (Image: Jifhi Jrr)
The third favorite activity of Filipinos every Christmas Eve is exchanging gifts. This practice of gift-giving can be dated back to the birth of Christ when the three wise men offered baby Jesus gifts. Today, we Filipinos continue this tradition by exchanging gifts with our family and friends as a sign of love and appreciation.
But aside from sharing blessings, studies show that giving gifts also have other positive effects on the giver. For one, it makes them feel happy. In addition, they also receive some good health benefits such as reduced stress and lower blood pressure [2].
2. Preparing Noche Buena
Cook and eat together this year’s Noche Buena (Image: @tairrible)
The activity that made it to the second spot is preparing Noche Buena (Christmas Eve dinner). Aside from Noche Buena being part of our tradition, cooking and having a grand feast is a must for every Filipino family celebration. May it be a birthday or graduation, a celebration is necessary.
And as much as it is fun to feast during Noche Buena, preparing it is equally enjoyable, if not better. Preparing these meals means spending quality time with our family. It’s the perfect time to reconnect and create new memories that you can look back on in the future.
1. Attend Mass
Voter’s comments:
“We must prioritize God first in Christmas Eve. Thanks him for all the blessings :D”- Mhar Justine Ornido
“The first thing to do in Christmas Eve is to attend a mass before doing anything else. :)”- Richard Reblando
Thanking our Maker before anything else is a must every Christmas Eve. (Image: Ela Mones)
The top activity to do on Christmas Eve in the Philippines is attending a mass. Christmas Eve mass is the culmination of simbang gabi, which is called Misa de Gallo (rooster’s mass) on Christmas Eve. Typically, the whole family attends mass before heading home and enjoying Noche Buena.
Attending a mass, even if it’s not Christmas Eve, helps us reconnect with our maker and also with our family. Being in an environment with other people also benefits us socially, as this is the time to make new friends and share the blessing of Christmas.
Did your family’s tradition make it into our list? Let us know in the comments section below which of these activities you are going to do this coming Christmas Eve.
| [1] | https://www.southuniversity.edu/whoweare/newsroom/blog/the-advantages-of-family-time-113366 |
| [2] | https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/5_ways_giving_is_good_for_you |
About Patricia Marie Prado
Patricia came from the field of business and accounting but is now pursuing her dreams of being a writer. She is a self-confessed introvert and is passionate about reading, travelling, writing, movies, coffee and God. When she's not writing, she loves discovering new coffee shops/cafe and doing TV-series marathons.
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