The Philippines is one of six predominantly Christian countries in Asia, boasts the earliest and longest Christmas season in the world.
Every year, Filipinos all around the world mark September 1, as the start of the Christmas countdown. The "Ber months" countdown, which runs from September to December, is one of the most important traditions that sets apart Christmas in the Philippines from celebrations in the rest of the world. In some households, Christmas decorations are already hung up this early. The most common of which is the “parol,” a star-shaped Christmas lantern made of wood and paper, or metal and a shell called capiz usually used for window panes.
Filipinos love an excuse to party, and Christmas is the biggest and longest party of all. As restrictions in NCR and the rest of the nation begin to ease amid the pandemic, Ninongs and Ninangs stumble to find the best gifts for their godchildren and probably prepare the perfect indoor celebration whether the family is in a condo living or in a warm humble ancestral house.
Here are some great indoor celebration ideas any family would love this 2021.
Christmas Lantern “Parol” Making
Christmas traditions such as parol making which is made of a bamboo pole or frame with a lighted star lantern are very dominant in the Philippines. Parol is traditionally made from bamboo strips and colored Japanese paper or cellophane paper represents the star that guided the Wise Men. It can be a great pass time for the kids and the family and as a household host, you can even make this a competition to spice up the Christmas celebration. For sure everyone got artsy talent up on their sleeves and cousins say no to a competition.
Indoor Caroling/karaoke
Filipinos love to sing. During Christmas, this love translates to the tradition of caroling. Children go from house to house singing carols to spread the spirit of Christmas. They usually form groups and have their customized musical instruments ready. In return, households are expected to give them a small amount of money. Given social distancing is still in place, indoor caroling among the family group can be a fun way of augmenting the street caroling. Line up the children and have them sing their hearts out and prepare the aguinaldos ahead of time.
Indoor Games
Filipinos love to play games. Here are fun and hilarious games any family can do.
Twelve Days Of Christmas Minute To Win It Games
Try the minute to win it inspired by the twelve days of Christmas song game. They include everything from tossing bears to laying goose eggs! They’re hilarious and so much fun.
Holiday How Do You Doo
In this song, you have to doo your way to holiday victory by singing popular Christmas songs and getting your team to guess them. But beware, you can only use the word doo when you sing!
Lump Of Coal Christmas Saran Wrap Game
In this hilarious game, you wrap up a bunch of small prizes and gifts (quarters, candy, gift cards) in a big ball of saran wrap. What makes this game way more fun than a typical saran wrap ball game is the addition of coal cards that make people do things like wrapping the ball behind their back, name five of Santa’s reindeer before they unwrap, and so on.
Christmas Name That Tune
This game is fun for anyone who loves music but may not be able to sing (even in doo form)! See who can guess popular Christmas songs first in this Christmas name that tune game.
Christmas Charades
In this fun game, players have to act out Christmas words and get their team to guess them before the time runs out. Or try one of these five different Christmas charades games – different than the classic Christmas charades! Or if you’d rather draw than act, Christmas Pictionary works with the words too!
Virtual Meet and Greet
While social distancing is in place, make sure no relatives go FOMO with these fun virtual meet and greet party games:
Online Holiday Bingo
Online Holiday Bingo is a fun and familiar game you can play at your virtual holiday party. You can play a focused version of the game by allowing teammates to interact on chat and in breakout rooms, or you can play as a group throughout the party.
Virtual Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Virtual scavenger hunts are fun and active ways to spend time on a Zoom call. The activity takes about 15 minutes and will increase engagement and excitement. The best items to hunt for also have story or “show and tell” opportunities, like favorite gifts and Christmas candy.
Cheery Holiday Playlists
Get that Jose Marie Chan December playlist ready as December is the only month of the year with a special soundtrack. Virtual or not, no holiday party is complete without carols. To put your group into the Christmas spirit, you can curate an upbeat holiday playlist. The whole team can join in on the fun by adding songs to a playlist on a platform Spotify or Pandora.
Filipino Potluck
It is also a common tradition in the Philippines for one to bring food during gatherings. Although it isn’t implied, a “pot luck" is very common where even with an overflowing amount of food at the table, guests still bring in cakes and other finger food, if not a bottle of the host’s favorite drink. This is because the host will always ask guests to take home food afterward as a party souvenir, usually placed in plastic bags or containers. If food cannot be brought, other tokens such as a variety of perfumed flowers will always find their place in the host’s flower jar that usually sits by the living room. The host may also want to show off the bouquet and turn your gift into a table centerpiece for the feast.
Decorations aren’t the only important supplies you’ll need to host a Covid Christmas party this year. Factor in extra cleaning supplies and sanitizers when setting your budget. Make your list and shop early to avoid the holiday rush on essentials like these:
Hand sanitizer: Set up hand sanitizer stations at all entrances or exits, in the kitchen, and in bathrooms. Especially when hosting outside where access to running water is limited, make sure you provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer that’s at least 60% alcohol.
Paper towels: Swap regular hand towels for single-use disposable paper hand towels.
Disposable tableware: While not as eco-friendly, 2021 is the exception to our rule to avoid single-use tableware—stock up on paper plates, cups, napkins, and serveware.
Face masks: Ask guests to BYO face mask, but have extras on hand if anyone forgets. You can also provide festive Christmas masks as a 2020-friendly party favor.
Celebrate Christmas in a brand new condo in Vista Residences.
Vista Residences is the condominium arm of the country’s largest homebuilder, Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc., which offers ready for occupancy and pre-selling condominium projects in Manila and Quezon City that are strategically located within inner-city areas, in close proximity to premium universities and developed business districts.
At Vista Residences, unit owners can take advantage of the property’s centrality. The properties of Vista Residences are strategically located near the country’s premium universities and CBDs, making them an attractive investment for both local and foreign investors.
Vista Residences has ready for occupancy condo projects in Manila such as Vista Taft, Vista Heights, Vista GL Taft, 878 Espana, and Crown Tower University Belt. It also has pre selling projects in the said area which include Vista Recto, Plumeria Heights, Tennyson Heights, Bradbury Heights, Sky Arts Manila, and Kizuna Heights.
Meanwhile, its ready for occupancy projects in Quezon City include Wil Tower, the Symphony Towers, Pine Crest, and Vista 309 Katipunan. It also has pre selling condo projects in the said city such as Hawthorne Heights and Vista Pointe.
Living in Vista Residences enables you to enjoy convenience, where everything is pretty much within walking distance or a few minutes away from the property; comfort because the project features and amenities are designed to deliver comfort at all times, which makes condo living a worthy investment; security that is 24/7 and CCTV monitoring, which makes the residents safe and secure within the property.
In line with Vista Residences’ thrust to offer convenience among its residents, it also features an AllDay Convenience Store and Coffee Project in all its projects.
Vista Residences is part of Vista Land’s roster of vertical housing brands that cater to millennials and young professionals. The other vertical brands include Camella Manors, COHO, and Crown Asia.
For more information on Vista Residences, email [email protected], follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or call the Marketing Office at 0999 886 4262 / 0917 582 5167.
