The Philippines celebrates a variety of holidays, including Filipino Christmas, which is one of the most important and is marked by lavish celebrations. There is also the tradition of giving gifts to relatives and friends. There are also a number of Philippine festivals in December, and the following are some of the more significant.
List of Philippine Festivals in December
- Christmas Symbols
- Kahumayan Festival
- Paskuhan sa BarangaySan Fernando Giant Lantern Festival
- Kamundagan Festival
- Subayan Keg Subanon
- Pasko sa Tanjay Festival
- Fiesta de Agoo
- Sinadya
- Hanging of the Green
- Feast of the Immaculate Concepcion
- Pagdiwata
- Dad-Iw Day-eng Chants
- Karisyohan Han Pasko Ha Palo
- Philippine International Lantern Parade
- Christmas Among the Tribes
- Simballay Festival
- Shariff Kabunsuan Festival
- Pastores Bikol
- Maytinis Festival
- Salubong
Philippine Festivals in December
Christmas Symbols
Tangub City
Tangub City puts on a breathtaking show of Christmas Symbols and concerts, which frequently include lit reproductions of famous locations from throughout the world.
Kahumayan Festival
Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte
A ceremony of appreciation for the abundance of rice in the area. Rice products and cuisines such as budbud, biko, bingka, espasol, palitao, puto, kalamay, and arroz valenciana are included at the event. Rice is referred to as humay in Visaya.
Paskuhan sa Barangay
Parian, Cebu City
Nightly cultural performances from Cebu City’s several universities.
San Fernando Giant Lantern Festival
Philippine Christmas Village, San Fernando, Pampanga
This is a lantern display where kaleidoscope patterns adorn lanterns ranging in size from 14 to 18 feet in diameter. A competition of huge parol lanterns is held during the celebration. The city has been dubbed the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines” due to the festival’s popularity.
Kamundagan Festival
Naga City
A parade of lights in Naga to celebrate the birth of the child Jesus The kiri-kiti, pastoras, beauty contest, agro-industrial fair, civic procession, cultural presentations, and other colorful events are among the highlights of the festival.
Subayan Keg Subanon
Ozamiz City
A celebration to commemorate the anniversary of Ozamiz becoming a chartered city on July 16, 1948. This celebration honors the Subanon lumads or indigenous people’s traditional beliefs and traditions. Traditional songs, dances, and ceremonies are featured at the Subayan Keg Subanon Festival.
Pasko sa Tanjay Festival
Tanjay, Negros Oriental
This is a month-long Christmas celebration including cultural performances and competitions.
Fiesta de Agoo
Agoo Civic Center, Agoo Basilica
This includes a Lantern Festival, Miss Agoo’s crowning, and the presentation of Bannuar ti and Dakilang Datu Awards.
Sinadya
Roxas City
A thanksgiving and sharing celebration. Sinadya, a city festival, and Halaran, a province festival, have merged to form the event.
More information is available on Roxas City’s website.
Hanging of the Green
Zamboanga City
Children participate in the “hanging of the green,” which marks the beginning of the Christmas season.
Feast of the Immaculate Concepcion
Puerto Princesa City
This is a big event in honor of the city’s patroness, with a parade of many representations of the Virgin Mary as the focal point.
For citizens and visitors to Puerto Princesa City, the century-old church of the Immaculate Conception Parish has served as a spiritual haven. The cathedral was constructed during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines in the late 1800s and is made of cement rather than limestone. It resembles a typical Philippine church except for its color. The arches within and outside the church are pointed, and the architecture features angular components.
Pagdiwata
This is the Tagbanuas’ thanksgiving celebration and a tribal ritual requesting God to heal the sick. Men participate in the rite, which includes drinking rice wine with the spirits. The Tagbanuas congregate in the house of the babaylan, or priestess, to whom the spirits speak after the harvest.
Dad-Iw Day-eng Chants
Bakod, Benguet
This includes performances of Ibaloi and Kankana-ey tribal songs and dances.
Karisyohan Han Pasko Ha Palo
Palo, Leyte
Showcases cultural performances, as well as a choral concert and Christmas Eve service at Palo Cathedral.
Philippine International Lantern Parade
Asia World Complex Roxas Blvd., and Quirino Grandstand
This is a huge colorful parade with local bands, indigenous groups, vintage cars, and calesas, as well as lanterns from many nations.
Christmas Among the Tribes
Cabarroquis, Quirino
This entails indigenous organizations in Quirino making house visits to provide Christmas gifts.
Simballay Festival
Nabunturan, Davao Province
Mansaka dances, neo-ethnic shows, street dancing, and a spectacular parade are among the highlights of this week-long event.
Find out more from Simballay Festival’s Official Facebook Page.
Shariff Kabunsuan Festival
Cotabato City
This is a commemoration of Shariff Kabunsuan’s and Islam’s arrival in Mindanao.
Find out more on Cotabato City’s Tourist Information Facebook Page.
Pastores Bikol
Legaspi City
This features boys and girls dressed up as shepherds who are overjoyed at the birth of Jesus. Pastores Bikol is a Spanish-era ritual symbolizing the shepherds’ joy at Jesus Christ’s birth. The Department of Tourist has included this event in its histroico-cultural and tourism development plans in conjunction with the City Government of Legazpi and the Provincial Government of Albay for several years.
Maytinis Festival
Kawit, Cavite
This is a town-wide re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s quest for a room on the night before Jesus’ birth.
Salubong
Plaridel, Bulacan
This is a parade of dancing women, horses, and calesas leading to Barangay Sipet to fetch Santiago Maria Moros.
Festivals by Month: JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC