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According to [Interaksyon, Philstar], it’s the first day of September and for Filipinos, it is the “comeback day” of Jose Mari Chan and Mariah Carey, whose Christmas songs would endlessly blast in shopping malls and residential areas as soon as the “Ber months” begin.
The Philippines is known to celebrate the world’s longest Christmas season.
As September kicks off, songs and lavish displays related to the Yuletide would start playing and appear in public spaces.
It is the first month with the “-ber” suffix which is also fitting since some of these months are associated with the northeast monsoon or “amihan,” when cool and dry winds from Siberia and China are blown to Southeast Asia. This results in cool air and low humidity.
From a Catholic perspective, the celebration starts from December 16 to the first Sunday after New Year or the Feast of the Epiphany.
Nine masses are held in anticipation of Christmas Day itself, which is traditionally held at early dawn. This is also called “Simbang Gabi.”
These Eucharistic celebrations also help usher in the festivities with the church displaying star-shaped lanterns or “parols” and putting up “belen” or the Nativity Scene near altars.
Well-known delicacies such as “puto bumbong” (purple rice cake steamed in bamboo tubes), “bibingka” (baked rice cake) and “puto” (steamed rice cake) are also sold by vendors to churchgoers.
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Filipinos mark September 1st as Jose Mari Chan and Mariah Carey’s ‘comeback’ day. (Photo / Retrieved from Interaksyon)
In line with this, memes of Chan and Carey surfaced online as Filipinos digitally mark the start of the months-long Christmas season in the country.
According to [Interaksyon, Philstar], some online users quipped that September 1 is the artists’ “comeback day” as it is the start of the period when their Christmas hits would be played in malls, stores and houses in anticipation of Christmas itself.
