Philippines Christmas season starts in September

Christmas preparations are already under way in the Philippines, where the start of September marks the beginning of the “ber months” countdown to the country's most anticipated holiday.

In Manila, shops are selling Christmas trees, ornaments, lanterns, plastic reindeer and manger displays months before December. Radio stations begin playing carols on September 1, homeowners start putting up lights and large shopping malls roll out holiday displays.

The long season runs through September, October, November and December in the deeply Catholic country. Mark Godwin Villareal, a sociologist at Manila's University of Santo Tomas, said the countdown provides continuity and stability despite economic, political and personal challenges.

Villareal said September is usually for decorating, while October is when many people begin saving for gifts, food and reunions. More than 100,000 overseas Filipino workers typically travel home for the main Christmas period.

Retailers also prepare early. Christian Mathay, senior assistant vice president for SM Supermalls, said the chain of 90 shopping malls began setting up Christmas ornaments in August and that starting early gives shoppers more time to enjoy the season.

In Pampanga province north of Manila, recent flooding disrupted some makers of star-shaped Christmas lanterns known as parol. Lantern-maker Angelica David said water entered her showroom, forcing cleanup work, but added that the lanterns are waterproof and that people should begin buying them after flood recovery.

Christmas decorations in the Philippines often stay up until January 6, observed in the country as the day the three magi brought gifts for the infant Jesus.