Noche Buena: Filipino Christmas Eve


Noche Buena derives from the Spanish for "A Good Night". It is the traditional feast Filipinos partake in after the midnight mass.

Simbang Gabi is Tagalog for "Night Worship" or "Night Mass." Filipinos attend pre-dawn masses in the nine days before Christmas Eve. It is known as Misa de Gallo (Mass of the Cock / Rooster) in Spanish.

Bisperas ng Pasko
Christmas Eve

Panunuluyan
reenactment of Joseph and Mary's search for lodging

pamasko
Christmas gift

namamasko
going for a Christmas gift

Namamasko po kami.
Kami po'y namamasko.
We're here for Christmas gifts.

aginaldo
Christmas present

parol
Christmas lantern, usually star-shaped

Maligayang Pasko!
Merry Christmas!

On the Noche Buena menu are season favorites like keso de bola and hamon.

The Christmas Eve song popularly known as Kay Sigla ng Gabi describes what happens on Noche Buena.