December 16 is when "Simbang Gabi" starts in the Philippines. It is a series of nine Catholic masses, one everyday before sunrise until Christmas Eve. Filipinos go to church at four o’clock in the morning and afterward have breakfast together.
A traditional drink during this season is a warm ginger tea called salabat and a traditional rice cake called bibingka. The Tagalog word for "Christmas" is Pasko. Learn more about Christmas in the Philippines!