Christmas Eve is celebrated every 24th day of December with the Midnight Mass, and right away after, the much-anticipated Noche Buena – the traditional Christmas Eve feast, often translated as "Good Night", is a Spanish word referring to the night of Christmas Eve. This usually comes after the entire family has attended the late evening Christmas Eve mass or Misa de Gallo. Family members dine together at around midnight on traditional Noche Buena fare. Some families would also open presents at this time.
I celebrate this day attending thanks giving mass but sad to say that this year I was not able to attend because I’m not feeling well. My cousin and her family invited us to spend Noche Buena in their home. And we went there to spend Noche Buena. In this night there are foods and beverages in the table, our family, my tito’s and tita’s, cousins, nephew, Christmas symbols this are the things we can see during this night but think deeply this is incomplete, why? It is because no matter how we smile and spent this time together as long as we didn’t put Him in our heart it’s all useless. What is important is we always put Him first and give time to His special day. And not only today but we put Him in our heart always and forever.
After this night people are going to face the Christmas Day. In the Philippines it is primarily a family affair. The Misa de Aguinaldo is celebrated on December 25 and is usually attended by the whole family. It is the main means of celebrating Jesus Christ's birth.
The Misa de Aguinaldo is often celebrated between sunrise and 10 a.m., a schedule preferred by many Filipinos who stay up late on Christmas Eve for the night-long celebration of the Noche Buena.
In the morning, Filipino families visit members of the extended family, notably the elders in order to pay their respects. This custom of giving respect has been an age-old tradition in the Philippines called "Pagmamáno"; this is done by bringing the elder's hand to one's forehead, while saying Mano Po. The elder then blesses the person who has paid them respect. "Aguinaldo", or money in the form of crisp, fresh-from-the-bank bills is given after the Pagmamano, mostly to younger children. Godparents are expected to give gifts or Aguinaldo to their godchildren.
Merry Christmas!
1224-2510
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