The Philippines’ “Ber Months”: The World’s Longest Christmas Season

As soon as the calendar flips to September 1, a festive spirit sweeps across the Philippines. Radio stations begin playing Christmas classics (notably by crooner Jose Mari Chan), shopping malls hang up tinsel and lights, and households dust off their décor in eager anticipation. These early signs mean the “Ber months” are here – the months of September, October, November, and December – marking the start of what is often called the world’s longest Christmas season. While most countries wait until late November or even December to embrace the holidays, Filipinos kick off Christmas as early as September, giving themselves a four-month head start on holiday cheer. It’s common to hear cheerful greetings like “Happy Ber Months!” as people excitedly welcome this unique extended holiday season. But what are the Ber months exactly, and why do Filipinos celebrate Christmas for so long? The answer lies in a mix of faith, family, and fun that has become deeply embedded in Filipino culture.

“Ber months” is a local term for the final four months of the year, all ending in “-ber.” In the Philippines, this period is virtually synonymous with Christmas. Filipinos simply love Christmas – the warmth, hope, and togetherness it brings – so they see no reason to wait. As one Filipino writer put it, “when you love something, you make room for it”, and Filipinos make plenty of room for Christmas. Starting the season early gives families more chances to celebrate what matters, especially precious time with loved ones. The extended calendar also allows Filipinos to spread out various traditions and gatherings, so nothing feels rushed. From September through January, life slowly shifts into “Christmas mode,” creating a magical atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the world.

Let’s take a closer look at how each of the Ber months contributes to this extra-long holiday season, and how cultural traditions, economic realities, and even the Filipino diaspora all come together to sustain four months of festive spirit.

September: The Early Start of Christmas

September 1st is a highly anticipated date in the Philippines – the day Christmas unofficially begins. Overnight, an audible and visual transformation occurs. Christmas songs suddenly dominate radio airwaves and shopping mall soundtracks. In particular, the ballad “Christmas in Our Hearts” by Jose Mari Chan (a singer fondly dubbed the “King of Philippine Christmas Carols”) becomes inescapable. His friendly face even turns into a popular meme on social media every September, signaling that the season of joy has arrived. It’s not unusual to see posts proclaiming “Welcome, Ber months!” as Filipinos share their excitement online.

At home, families begin hanging decorations much earlier than elsewhere. The most iconic adornment is the parol, a star-shaped lantern representing the Star of Bethlehem. Parols – traditionally made from bamboo and paper, now often crafted with capiz shell or LED lights – start popping up in windows, doorways, and streets as soon as September rolls in. These lanterns cast a warm glow in neighborhoods at night, instantly evoking Christmas nostalgia. By mid-September, one can also spot Christmas trees and wreaths in many Filipino living rooms and storefronts, weeks or even months ahead of the global norm.

What drives this early start? Aside from sheer enthusiasm, there’s a practical reason: the Philippines traditionally observes a 100-day countdown to Christmas. As one sociologist explains, the official countdown begins on September 16 and runs 100 days until December 25. This countdown has become part of the nation’s “psycho-social preparations” for the holiday – a way of mentally and emotionally gearing up for the big day. In other words, stretching Christmas over four months helps Filipinos savor the season and get into the proper spirit. By starting in September, people can plan gatherings, save up for gifts, and slowly decorate without the rush and stress that a shorter season might bring.

Importantly, the Ber month kick-off is also tied to the Filipino emphasis on family. Many Filipinos work overseas or in distant cities, so Christmas is the time everyone hopes to reunite. “Filipinos use the Christmas season to gather as a family separated by either temporary or permanent migration,” notes one Manila sociology lecturer. Knowing a reunion is coming, families begin preparations months in advance. Loved ones abroad mark their calendars and start coordinating travel plans or shipments of gifts once September hits. Even those who can’t come home immediately feel comfort in hearing the same carols and seeing familiar décor in September – it’s a taste of home that bridges the distance. The early start, therefore, is as much about emotional connection as it is about celebration.

All these factors make the first Ber month a joyful period of anticipation. As one early Christmas shopper said, “Things look brighter, lighter, more cheerful [when you decorate early]. Just hearing Christmas songs already gives you a sense of joy… Once you see memes of Jose Mari Chan, you know it’s Christmas.” For Filipinos, September is not too soon at all – it’s the perfect time to cue the carols, hang the lanterns, and let the holiday cheer begin.

October: Building the Festive Spirit

By October, the holiday momentum only grows. The Christmas spirit that sparked in September carries on naturally into this month. Across the Philippines, one can observe an increasing number of homes and public spaces adorned with twinkling lights and Christmas decorations. Malls that started playing carols in September ramp up their festive displays, often unveiling giant Christmas trees or Santa Claus figures by October. Many offices and schools begin organizing Christmas programs, choirs start rehearsing carols, and communities plan charity drives or gift exchanges well ahead of December. The atmosphere becomes progressively more festive each week.

During October, family plans for Christmas start to solidify. People mark their calendars for the series of reunions and gatherings that will happen in December. It’s common for Filipinos to have large extended families, so coordinating visits among relatives – which weekend will we visit Lolo and Lola (grandparents)? where to hold the clan reunion? – begins early. Friends likewise start penciling in Christmas parties or get-togethers. As one Filipino blogger noted, by October, many people are already “blocking off weekends for visiting friends and small reunions” as schedules fill up quickly with holiday commitments. Indeed, calendars in the Philippines for the -ber months can get very busy, very fast.

October also brings a slight pause for reflection: at the end of the month, Filipinos observe All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day (November 1 and 2), important days for honoring departed loved ones. Traditionally, some families avoid putting up the fullest Christmas décor until after these solemn holidays have passed. However, the lead-up to November 1 doesn’t diminish the Christmas mood – if anything, the anticipation continues to build under the surface. Retailers notice that the true Christmas shopping rush tends to hold off until after October 31. As one lantern vendor observed, customers trickle in during September and October, “but the peak is really after All Saints’ Day.” In short, October is a month of steady festive buildup in the Philippines. The carols keep playing, decorations quietly multiply, and everyone knows that once November arrives, the holidays will shift into full throttle.

November: Holiday Preparations in Full Swing

Once the calendar hits November, any remaining hesitation about celebrating “too early” disappears. By now, the Philippines is fully in Christmas mode. Holiday sales and bazaars pop up everywhere – from big city malls to small provincial markets – as people start shopping in earnest for gifts and Noche Buena (Christmas Eve feast) supplies. Radio and TV stations, which have been sneaking in Christmas jingles since September, often launch official Christmas countdown shows or specials in November. Even the government and businesses join in; it’s not uncommon to see public offices and banks decked out with Christmas trees by early November.

Crucially, November 1–2 (All Saints’/All Souls’) marks a turning point. Immediately after these days of remembrance, Filipinos feel free to “go all out” with Christmas. In the first week of November, there’s usually a noticeable surge in households completing their decorating. If a home didn’t have its lights and parols up yet, it almost certainly will by mid-November. City streetscapes also become more dazzling – many town plazas or city halls light their giant Christmas trees around this time, often with community ceremonies and fireworks. The world’s longest Christmas is now in full swing.

Another hallmark of November is the start of the party season. Offices, schools, and other groups plan their annual Christmas parties well ahead, and some even hold them in November to avoid the December rush. Weekend nights fill up with gatherings: one weekend might be a high school friends’ reunion, the next a company party, then a church group potluck, and so on. Filipinos genuinely try to see all their circles of family and friends during the season, so the reunions are spaced out over two or more months. This reflects how community-oriented the culture is – Christmas is not just one day with immediate family, but rather a season of many reunions and social activities.

Amidst the flurry of events, November is also prime time for charitable activities. Many families or offices choose a day in November to volunteer or donate food and gifts to the less fortunate, embodying the true spirit of giving. Simultaneously, church groups might organize outreach programs or early dawn rosaries leading up to Advent. The blend of faith and generosity remains strong even as the celebrations become lively.

By late November, the Philippines is a full-blown Christmas wonderland. Malls turn into “must-visit destinations” with extended hours, festive displays, carol performances, and big sales to attract shoppers. Streets are filled with the sound of Christmas carolers (often children going house to house in the evenings). Every corner itches with anticipation for December. In essence, November in the Philippines feels like Christmas Eve stretched over 30 days – a month-long state of excitement and preparation, as everyone readies themselves for the peak of the season to arrive.

December: Christmas at Its Peak

When December finally arrives, the Philippines enters the height of its Christmas celebrations. By now, every Filipino community – from the smallest village to the busiest Manila district – is alive with holiday activities. Simbang Gabi, the tradition of attending dawn Mass for nine consecutive days, begins on December 16 and immediately sets a reverent yet joyful tone. Each morning before sunrise, churches are packed as devotees attend these Masses leading up to Christmas Eve. It’s believed that completing all nine days of Simbang Gabi allows one’s dearest wish to be granted. Whether for faith or fun, many Filipinos take on the challenge, often rewarded after Mass with traditional treats like puto bumbong (purple rice cakes) and bibingka (coconut rice cake) sold outside the church.

December is also when every family gathering and party reaches its culmination. Office and school Christmas parties (often featuring lively performances, dancing, and raffles) usually happen in the first half of the month. Then, as schools go on break and OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) return home, the focus shifts entirely to family. The ultimate family feast occurs on December 24th, known as Noche Buena. On Christmas Eve, extended families come together late at night to attend Misa de Gallo (a special midnight Mass) and then indulge in a midnight feast after the clock strikes twelve. A typical Noche Buena table overflows with Filipino favorites: lechon (roast pig) or hamón (Christmas ham) as the centerpiece, pasta or noodles, queso de bola (edam cheese ball), pan de sal bread, and an array of sweets. Gifts are exchanged, laughter and karaoke fill the air, and often this merrymaking lasts into the wee hours of Christmas morning.

Christmas Day (Dec 25) itself is a national holiday and usually a more relaxed day spent visiting relatives or resting after the late-night festivities. Many households continue another tradition on Christmas Day: pamamaskó, where children go to their godparents and elders to pay respects and in turn receive aguinaldo – often an envelope of cash or a small gift. It’s a day all about family, gratitude, and joy. And the season isn’t over yet. In the days following Christmas, Filipinos keep celebrating straight through New Year’s Eve (with a big Media Noche feast at midnight on Dec 31). The holiday spirit remains high into early January, concluding only after the New Year’s revelries. In fact, the Christmas season traditionally “concludes within the week after New Year’s Day,” around the Feast of the Epiphany (Three Kings) on the first Sunday of January. Some festivities even extend to the second week of January, when Filipinos honor the Feast of the Santo Niño (Holy Child) – by then, finally, the Christmas decorations come down and the long season gently winds to a close.

From September to December (and beyond), the Philippines’ Christmas season is filled with rich traditions at every turn. Vibrant parades and fiestas are held in many towns during December, merging Christmas with local culture. Carolers – from adorable kids to professional choirs – serenade from house to house or perform at parks and malls. The overall mood is one of generosity, community, and cheer. As a Filipino Christmas song proudly proclaims, “Pasko sa Pinas, walang katulad sa buong mundo” – Christmas in the Philippines is like no other in the world. Indeed, by the time the Ber months have run their course each year, Filipinos have spent a third of the year celebrating Christmas, creating memories to last a lifetime.

Filipino Diaspora: Keeping the Christmas Spirit Alive Abroad

It’s not only those in the Philippines who revel in the Ber months – the Filipino diaspora around the globe also takes part in this extended Christmas season. With roughly 10 million Filipinos living overseas, Filipino communities have spread their holiday spirit far and wide. For many of these expatriates and workers abroad, starting Christmas in September is a way to stay connected to home and combat homesickness. No matter what corner of the world they find themselves in, Filipinos find creative ways to celebrate as if they were back in the motherland.

One way is through community gatherings. In cities like London, Dubai, Toronto, or Sydney, large Filipino organizations often host early Christmas parties or “Pasko sa ______” events during the Ber months. These gatherings feature all the familiar trappings of a Filipino Christmas – potluck tables of homemade Filipino dishes, lively karaoke sessions of OPM (Original Pilipino Music) Christmas songs, and exchange gifts games like Monito/Monita. The sight of Filipinos in Santa hats belting out ballads on a karaoke machine overseas is not unusual – it’s a beloved way to recreate the Philippines’ festive atmosphere abroad. If a large in-person community isn’t accessible, many overseas Filipinos still connect virtually. Groups of college friends or extended families scattered across countries will organize a Zoom Christmas party, where everyone might wear red and green, play music, and toast to the season through their screens.

Staying in touch with family back home is, of course, a top priority for Filipinos abroad in these months. Video calls and greetings intensify as Christmas draws nearer. “This is the time of year families call their loved ones and wish they were together,” one Filipino expat shared. A daughter working in Italy might sing “Maligayang Pasko” (Merry Christmas) over a video chat to her parents in Cebu, or a father in Canada might stay on a Christmas Eve call for hours to virtually join his family’s Noche Buena. These heartfelt connections exemplify how technology helps bridge distances, allowing overseas Filipinos to partake in the season’s joy in real time.

Filipinos abroad also bring along their Christmas customs wherever they reside. Many decorate their homes with a touch of the Philippines – a parol lantern hung in a window or a Philippine-made ornament on the tree – to remind them of home. Filipino stores overseas often stock parols and Fiesta ham in the -ber months, catering to the diaspora’s early holiday cravings. Cooking Filipino Christmas foods is another way of celebrating: one might smell lechon and bibingka being prepared in kitchens from the Middle East to North America come December. Additionally, churches around the world with significant Filipino congregations hold Simbang Gabi Masses (sometimes adapted to evening schedules) so that overseas Filipinos can continue the tradition of nine-day Christmas Masses. In places like Los Angeles and Hong Kong, these Masses are well-attended, complete with Filipino priests and choirs, making immigrants feel a slice of home during the season.

Importantly, the diaspora often plays Santa to loved ones back in the Philippines. Filipinos overseas send balikbayan boxes – large boxes filled with gifts and goodies – months in advance, timing them to arrive in December. These boxes might contain everything from chocolates and clothes to toys and gadgets, lovingly curated over months to spoil the family back home. Children who receive a balikbayan box from a parent abroad often squeal with delight at imported treats and the unmistakable “smell of America” or wherever the box came from. The act of sending these care packages is a cherished tradition that allows those abroad to contribute to the family celebration from afar. And for many overseas Filipinos, the greatest gift is returning home in person. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, airports in Manila and Cebu fill with thousands of arriving Filipino workers and migrants coming home for the holidays. In fact, during December, hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipinos fly back to the Philippines to spend Christmas with their families. The emotional scenes of tearful hugs at the arrival terminal – often with welcome banners and kids jumping into parents’ arms – are themselves a testament to how important Christmas family reunions are in Filipino culture.

Through these gatherings, calls, traditions, and homecomings, the Filipino diaspora maintains an unbreakable link to the homeland during the Ber months. No matter how far away they are, Filipinos ensure that Christmas is in their hearts (to quote Jose Mari Chan) by celebrating in sync with the Philippines’ long holiday season. In doing so, they spread Filipino Christmas cheer to whatever new homeland they’ve adopted, truly echoing the festivities across the globe wherever Filipinos call home.

Remittances: Fueling Months of Festivities

While songs and décor set the mood for the Ber months, there is another very important way Filipinos prepare for the lengthy holiday season: remittances. The Philippines has millions of citizens working abroad or in major cities away from their families, and the money they send home – especially towards the end of the year – plays a huge role in making the extended Christmas celebration possible. In fact, the last quarter of the year is historically the most robust period for remittances to the Philippines, as overseas Filipinos send extra funds for the holidays. As soon as September hits, many OFWs begin remitting more money to help their families back home start the Christmas preparations early. They know that once the Ber months start, Filipinos will already be putting up decorations and planning festivities, which also means expenses begin to rise. Sending a bit of additional support each month from September onward can help loved ones afford those new parols, gifts for the kids, or ingredients for special recipes that might become pricier as Christmas approaches.

The impact of these holiday remittances is significant. For example, in one recent year, the Philippines’ central bank noted that dollar remittances jumped to a two-month high in September, reaching about $3.15 billion sent that month. This surge was attributed in part to overseas workers anticipating the Christmas season and sending money early. Economists observe that it’s not only contract workers (OFWs) who contribute, but also Filipino immigrants and expats worldwide who may no longer have immediate family in the Philippines but still send “Christmas money” to relatives or for charity back home. The tradition of “Christmas remittances” is deeply ingrained – it’s one way Filipinos abroad remain involved in the family celebrations. A few extra dollars each week from September to December can collectively fund a family’s entire holiday season: the decorations, the nightly family meals, the special outings, and the big Noche Buena feast.

Most Filipino workers also receive their year-end bonuses or “13th month pay” during the Ber months, which they often dedicate to holiday spending or gifts. Families typically pool these bonuses and any remittance money to budget for the long list of activities and purchases the season entails. From new clothes for the kids to the lechon for Christmas Eve, these funds ensure that the festivities are bountiful and that every gathering has plenty of food on the table. In a sense, remittances and bonuses fuel the Filipino Christmas engine, enabling a months-long celebration that might otherwise be financially difficult to sustain. Despite challenges like inflation in recent years, surveys have found that Filipinos prioritize their Christmas remittances – they will cut back on other things before they cut back on helping their family celebrate Christmas in style.

Another modern development is how technology has made sending holiday money easier than ever. Gone are the days of mailing checks or relying on slow services. Today, we at sendvalu make it possible for Filipinos abroad to transfer money home instantly with just a few taps on a phone. Funds can arrive in minutes directly to a bank account, mobile wallet, or be ready for cash pickup at a trusted location. This means an OFW in Dubai or New York can conveniently send support right when it’s needed – for instance, wiring extra cash in late December if the family decides to host a New Year’s party. The convenience and speed encourage more frequent, smaller transfers, perfectly matching the stretched-out timeline of the Ber months. Families back home might receive a remittance in September to buy new decorations, another in November for gifts, and yet another in December for the New Year’s celebration. Together, these contributions boost household spending and fuel the holiday joy.

Beyond remittances, many Filipinos abroad also rely on other ways to make their presence felt during the long Christmas season. That’s why we at sendvalu also offer mobile top-ups and digital gift cards, giving families back home the tools to connect and celebrate more fully. A quick top-up can mean extra data for a video call during Simbang Gabi, or more minutes to sing karaoke across the miles. Sending a digital gift card, on the other hand, offers loved ones the freedom to choose what they need most – whether it’s groceries for Noche Buena or a treat for themselves. These small but meaningful gestures remind families that distance is no barrier to love and support. And during the world’s longest Christmas celebration, we at sendvalu are proud to help keep those connections alive. Through the practice of holiday remittances, the Filipino value of supporting one’s family shines brightly. The money sent is more than just financial aid; it is an expression of love and participation. A mother working overseas as a nurse might not be able to join the Noche Buena, but her remittance ensures her children have a delicious feast and presents on Christmas morning. A group of Filipino friends in California might pool funds to sponsor a charity gift-giving event in their hometown. Such contributions illustrate that even from afar, Filipinos are deeply involved in making the lengthy Christmas season joyous for those they left behind.

Four months of Christmas festivities are no simple undertaking – it requires time, energy, and yes, money – but Filipinos manage it year after year through a combination of passion and cooperation. As the Ber months roll in each autumn, a vast local and global network of Filipinos begins to work in tandem: families decorating and planning at home, communities and churches organizing events, friends abroad sending their love and support from overseas. The result is a holiday season unmatched in spirit and length. In the Philippines, Christmas isn’t merely a day or even a month – it’s a season of togetherness that spans a third of the year and extends to every corner of the world where Filipino hearts sing “Maligayang Pasko.”

Through cultural traditions passed down generations and the unwavering support of the Filipino diaspora, the Ber months have become a cherished time when joy, faith, and family take center stage. It’s a celebration so uniquely and exuberantly Filipino that by the time the last fireworks of New Year’s have faded, one thing is certain: in just a few months, the Ber months will be back, and with them will come the Christmas magic all over again – the longest and loveliest holiday season on Earth.

No matter where you are, you can stay part of the world’s longest Christmas celebration. You can send money to the Philippines to help with festive preparations, top up mobile phones in the Philippines so your loved ones never miss a call, or send digital gift cards to the Philippines to give them the freedom to choose what they need most.

Sources:

Arab News – Filipinos kick off world’s longest Christmas season with ‘ber months

Camella Homes Blog – Significance of ‘Ber’ Months: Why Filipinos Start the Holiday Season So Early

Balikbayan Magazine – Pinoy Christmas: The World’s Longest, Loudest, and Most Loving Celebration

National Geographic – Christmas in the Philippines (world’s longest Christmas)

The Filipino Chronicle – Christmas Remittance Tradition Expected to Surge