Filipino Christmas Traditions That Will Have to Change This 2020

It’s less than a month until Christmas and it looks like this year will be the saddest one yet. No, your saddest Christmas isn’t the time your family didn’t wake you up for Noche Buena, it’s going to be the one where all Christmas parties were canceled. But before you shed a tear or two about the terrible fate of our 2020 holidays, we’re here to tell you it doesn’t have to be all that gloomy. To borrow the words of Chris Pratt in Jurassic World, life finds a way. Here are just some of the few fun ways you can convert the traditional Pinoy Christmas to fit this year’s lockdown theme.

Online Simbang Gabi

Sorry, you’ll have to make do without holding your crush’s hand at church first thing in the morning. Of course, that isn’t the only reason to wake up early and complete the 9 days of Simbang Gabi leading up to Christmas. Like all industries and sectors, the church has learned to adapt to the new normal. There are churches holding socially distanced masses with increased schedules or virtual assemblies which are far safer in this day and age. Check the Facebook page of your local church to know their schedules or get links to online masses.

The Metro Manila Film Festival goes digital

Another modern Pinoy Christmas tradition is storming cinemas every Christmas week to watch the annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). This year, as predicted, everything will be made online from the Parade of the Stars to the Awards Night. MMFF has announced that they partnered with Globe and online streaming platform Upstream to bring the movies closer to everyone. Tickets will also be available online. Follow MMFF’s official Facebook page for updates on the movie schedule and ticketing.

Virtual Christmas displays

Sadly, you’ll have to skip your tradition of going to see the city’s famous Christmas spots in person. But we’re still hoping everything will be made available online. True to their annual festivities, Ayala Avenue lit up with lanterns that made the street feel a lot like Christmas. And they’re also letting us celebrate their famous Ayala Triangle Gardens Lights and Sound Display in a new light.

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And virtual Christmas parties

Via Unsplash: Chris Montgomery

The best thing about Christmas is the fact that you get invited to a minimum of five Christmas parties each year and you get to stuff your face with food at each one. Record scratch, freeze frame – yeah that’s not going to happen this year. But you can still get to hang out with your friends and officemates through the trusty virtual hangouts. Who says it has to be boring? Dress up! Decorate your place, maybe make hot chocolate, or wear a sweater even though it’s probably 30-degrees out.

E-caroling

via GIPHY

Christmas isn’t complete without your neighbor’s kids banging on your door and belting out Sa Maybahay ang Aming Bati. And then you have to endure them caroling on your door every night until Christmas. Fun times. But as a self-confessed introvert who might have a teeny tiny fear of interacting with carolers, I have to say I’m kind of relieved it’s e-caroling this year. Don’t ask me how that works though.

Socially distanced Noche Buena and Media Noche

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You might have to forego your usual clan get-togethers this year. Without your dozen cousins elbowing each other to get the best piece of lechon, it’s going to be a gloomy Christmas. But at least you have the food all to yourself. The good news is you don’t have to skip the annual year-end film showing with them because technology has got your back! You can install the Netflix Watch Party extension or check out scener.com.

Door-to-door gift delivery

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It’s no surprise that online shopping will be king this holiday. Pros? You won’t have to walk around the mall looking for the perfect gift, you can do that with a few taps on your phone. It will also be delivered straight to the recipient. Cons? Shipping fees are no joke! Online shopping also comes with a ton of plastic packaging that is obviously harmful to the planet. Remember to shop responsibly and to look for online stores that do eco-friendly packaging.

E-guinaldo

via GIPHY

Instead of the bright red envelopes that made you so excited every year regardless of your age, this time it’s going to be a black-and-white Christmas. And by black-and-white we obviously mean QR codes. E-guinaldo is the future! All you have to do is send your relatives, ninongs, and ninangs your QR code and wait for them to drop your Aguinaldo straight to your bank. But although QR codes are cool and all, we’ll miss shoving everyone off – kids and adults alike – so we can get to the front of the line for that Aguinaldo pouch.

How are you going to spend Christmas in the midst of COVID-19?