If You Miss Christmas, Visit Here... Christmas Season Lasts Until January Next Year

Four Months of Christmas Season Starting in September
The Special Reason Behind the Philippines' Extended Christmas

On the 9th (local time), Christmas decorations are being sold at a store in Manila, Philippines. Photo by AP Yonhap News.

The Philippines holds the world's longest Christmas festival. It is also the country where Christmas tree decorations can be seen for the longest period. The Christmas celebrations in the Philippines, which last from September to early January, originated from a special consideration for overseas workers who return home at different times.

Four Months of Christmas in the Philippines... The 'Ber Months' Festival

AP Yonhap News

According to CNN, the Philippines has the longest Christmas festival period in the world. The Christmas season in the Philippines begins on September 1 and continues for four months until the first week of January. Starting in early September, Christmas trees are set up and decorative lights are sold throughout major city centers. Tourists from the United States, Europe, and other regions visit the Philippines as early as September to experience the Christmas atmosphere as soon as possible.

In the Philippines, this extended Christmas period is called the 'Ber Months.' The name comes from the fact that September, October, November, and December all end with 'ber.' During this time, some Filipinos exchange Christmas gifts in advance.

When December begins, Christmas gift shopping goes into full swing. In the Philippines, year-end bonuses are paid on Christmas Eve, December 24, and many people buy gifts around this time. Companies in the Philippines provide workers with a bonus equal to their average monthly salary for the year, in addition to their regular year-end performance bonuses. This is called the '13th Month Pay.' Under Philippine labor law, companies are required to pay this bonus to all employees.

Consideration for Overseas Workers... The 'Balikbayan' Year-End Homecoming Program

View of Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines. Photo by Philippine Tourism Board

The reason Christmas is celebrated for such a long period in the Philippines is to accommodate overseas workers returning home for the holidays. CNN reported, "It is difficult for Filipino workers abroad to all return home during the Christmas season," and explained, "The Christmas period was extended so that workers returning on different schedules from late September onward could still experience the festive atmosphere." According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), over 10 percent of Filipino workers are employed overseas, and the remittances they send home account for 9 percent of the Philippines' total gross domestic product (GDP).

To encourage overseas workers to return home for the holidays, the Philippine government operates the 'Balikbayan' program. Started in 1973, this program allows Filipinos living abroad, as well as their spouses and family members, to enter the country visa-free for one year. In addition, returning Filipinos can send goods back to the Philippines in government-designated boxes called 'Balikbayan Boxes,' which are exempt from customs duties.

However, from mid-December to early January, airports are extremely crowded with returning travelers, and most stores are closed, making it difficult for foreign tourists to visit the Philippines during this period. According to the Philippine Tourism Board, about 4.5 million homecoming travelers pass through major Philippine airports every year after December 15 for the year-end holidays. Government offices, companies, and stores typically close or operate on shortened hours from December 15 until the first Sunday of January.