Celebrating the Ber Months: A Season of Family, Food, and Fiestas

The start of “Ber Months” signals Filipinos that Christmas is near and that we should start decorating our houses. The Ber months serve as a transition for us. From the hot and tropical summer to the festive and cold Christmas feeling. Usually, the Ber months act as a Christmas jingle starter for all Filipinos which prompts households to start playing Jose Mari Chan songs at home. Have you ever wondered about the many different events and parties that happen during the “Ber months” in the Philippines? Let’s take a deep dive into how Filipinos prepare for the Christmas season. 

During the Ber months, many Filipinos start decorating their houses with different ornaments and accessories to make their house better than their neighbors as a friendly competition between the community. Filipinos use parols and belens to decorate the exterior of their houses or their porches. Parols are Filipino lanterns that are usually made using bamboo and Japanese paper and are lit up with candles, oil lamps, or carbide lamps. Parols symbolize the star that guided the Three Wise Men to Jesus’ birthplace. An even more extravagant decoration is the Belen which means “Bethlehem” in Spanish, the birthplace of Jesus. This decor showcases the stable where Jesus was born. The belen has many elements to it, such as the Three Wise Men, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and the shepherds. Filipinos use this to present how significant the birth of Jesus is. Christmas is not just a celebration but also a reminder that He is the reason for the season

Ber months are the celebration of fiestas and get-togethers of friends and families. This is the time when we reconnect with our loved ones through parties and little get-togethers, celebrating the things that happened throughout the year. One of the highlights for most Filipino families is the Simbang Gabi. Simbang Gabi is a tradition where Catholic families attend mass early in the morning or during the night for nine consecutive days, starting from the 16th of December up until the 24th. After attending the Simbang Gabi, the families can hang out for a while before they go home. Another highlight is the Noche Buena or the “Midnight Feast”, the ultimate Christmas celebration that happens during Christmas Eve. Noche Buena is when friends, families, and neighbors come together to enjoy meals, such as keso de bola, kare-kare, lechon and many more. Of course, who can forget about the stars of theChristmas feast? The puto bumbong and bibingka—a treat so popular in the Filipino culture—is a must-have victual for a sensational Christmas-night.

You can say that the Filipinos consider Ber months as the highlight of their year. We are excited for Christmas even if it’s just September to the point that we sometimes skip other events, and just go straight to decorating our houses with Christmas decorations. The Ber months are such a special season because it’s the season where we spend most of our time with our families, friends, and our kapwa. With the Filipino culture and tradition being centered in the concept of pakikipagkapwa, this season is such a wonderful occasion to exhibit and experience this important Filipino value.