Pasko, the Filipino way

There is no Christmas in any other part of the world like the Filipino Christmas.

- ELFREN S. CRUZ

There are many Christmas traditions which have spread worldwide because of the diaspora. However, the one tradition that seems to have existed for centuries is the gathering of the family for the traditional Christmas meal. Food therefore is at the center of the Filipino Christmas. According to the late Doreen Fernandez, the highly respected cultural historian and food critic known for her essays on Philippine culture and traditions, food is central to Filipino Christmas celebrations not just for its flavors but for what it represents: "Family, community, shared history and the joy of being together.The important part of food at Christmas time isn’t just what is eaten but who you eat it with: “Returning family members, relatives abroad, friends and neighbors illustrating the deep cultural value of community gatherings during the holidays.”

In her writings, Fernandez does not just catalog dishes but she uses food to explore Filipino culture. For her, food is memory because “it carries stories of childhood, kinship, loss and joy.”

Food to her is also identity because it is part of what it means to be Filipino, especially during moments when family and community gather. Food is tradition because it connects past influences - Spanish, Malay, local customs - and brings them together in seasonal expressions that feel uniquely Filipino.