Advent Calendar December 16

It Starts Today…

Christmas officially starts today in the Philippines and many will get up very early to attend the Simbang Gabi. It’s a series of nine dawn Masses – also known as the rooster’s masses – in a tradition that goes back to Spanish colonial rule in the 17th century.

After each mass, people flock to nearby street stalls to have puto bumbong, a steamed rice dish flavoured with coconut milk and purple yam which gives it a gorgeous violet colour.
Maligayang Pasko!

Image credit: https://sportadictos.com/