People in the Philippines(PI) like 2 celebrate
Christmas 4 as long as possible! The playing of Christmas carols in shops starts on the 1st of September! The formal
Christmas celebrations start on 16th December when many
people go 2 the 1st of 9 pre-dawn or early morning masses. The last mass is on Christmas day. The
Christmas celebrations continue 2 the 1st Sunday in January when Epiphany or the Feast of the 3 Kings is celebrated.
In the PI the early masses held be4 Christmas R called the 'Misa de Gallo' or 'Simbang Gabi' in Filipino.
Christmas customs in the PI R a mixture of western & native Filipino traditions. (Christianity became widely known in The PI in the 1500s when missionaries from countries like Portugal & Spain traveled 2 the area.) So
people in the PI have Santa Claus (or 'Santa Klaws'), Christmas trees, Christmas cards & Christmas carols from western countries!
One very special person who helps
people in the PI celebrate Christmas is Santa R-Kayma Klaws. He is a Filipino citizen, in his 70s & is of Filipino/
Irish descent. He has been spreading Christmas cheer among poor Filipino children & seniors by adorning custom made suits as Santa during charity missions & corporate events in poor areas of the Philippines 4 over 56 years. He has a 'giant motor sleigh' (an air-conditioned bus!) that is used in many missions all over the PI. Santa R-Kayma Klaws owns the PI' only reindeer farm at Mt. Isarog in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Ocampo, Camarines Sur.
