The Christmas celebration this year is ushered with the dawn mass starting tomorrow until Christmas eve on December 24. Known in the liturgical calendar as Simbang Gabi (English: Night Mass; Spanish : Misa de Gallo , "Rooster's Mass") is a novena of dawn m asses from 16 December to Christmas Eve . The Simbang Gabi is practiced mainly by Catholic and Aglipayans , with some Evangelical Christian and independent Protestant churches having adopted the practice of having pre-Christmas dawn services. Attending the Masses is meant to show devotion to God and heightened anticipation for Christ's birth , and folk belief holds that God grants the special wish of a devotee that hears all nine Masses. At the St. Joseph Cathedral, this city, the dawn masses will start at 4:00 AM starting tomorrow until the 24th.

Morning observance of Simbang Gabi begins as early as 03:00 AM, while in some parishes, anticipated Masses begin the previous evening at 20:00 PST. After hearing Mass, Catholic families buy traditional Filipino holiday fare for breakfast outside the church and eat it either within the church precincts or at home. Vendors offer many native delicacies, including bibingka (rice flour and egg-based cake, cooked using coal burners above and under); putò bumbóng (a purple, sticky rice delicacy steamed in bamboo tubes, buttered then sprinkled with brown sugar and shredded dried coconut meat). Drinks include coffee, salabát (a ginger tisane ) and tsokoláte (thick, Spanish-style hot chocolate ). Some Aglipayan churches invite the congregation to partake of the "paínit" (literally, "heater"), a post-Mass snack of mostly rice pastries served with coffee or cocoa at the house of the Mass sponsor.

Christmas Eve

For Filipinos, Christmas Eve ("Bisperas ng Pasko") on 24 December is celebrated with the Midnight Mass , and the traditional Noche Buena feast. Family members dine together at around midnight on traditional yuletide fare, which includes: queso de bola (Spanish: "ball of cheese", which is edam cheese ) sealed with red wax; tsokoláte, pasta, fruit salad , pandesal , relleno and hamón (Christmas ham). Some families would also open presents at this time.

Panunulúyan

In different provinces and schools, the journey of Joseph and the pregnant Virgin Mary in search of lodging is re-enacted. The pageant, traditionally called the "Panunulúyan", "Pananawágan", or "Pananapátan", is modelled after the Spanish Las Posadas . The Panunulúyan is performed after dark, with the actors portraying Joseph and the Virgin Mary going to pre-designated houses. They perform a chant meant to rouse the "owners of the house" (also actors) to request for lodging. The owners then cruelly turn them away, sometimes also in song, saying that their house is already filled with other guests. Finally, Joseph and Mary make their way to the parish church where a replica of the stable has been set up. The birth of Jesus is celebrated at midnight with the Misa de Gallo.