Birthday Celebrations in the Philippines

We all know Filipinos are cheerful people. We love to socialize and mingle with others especially during birthdays.  I guess it's one way to strengthen our relationships with others and at the same we also celebrate life, the mere fact that we only have one day in a year to actually remember birthdays. 

What's it all about?

Birthday celebration is actually part of the Philippine culture. It is a celebration of one's uniqueness  that a single soul is born on that special day. In addition, it's one way to celebrate life and one's purpose of coming into this world.

Probably, it's one of the influences of the Spanish control in the past.  I mean, having one's birthday means  being grateful to God for the blessings we've received througout the year. It's that one special day in a year to commemorate one's existence. Usually, the celebrant goes to church, says some prayers and lights some candles. That feeling of being grateful for the blessings and graces received for the whole year. 

Methods of Celebrating Birthdays

1.) Eating a birthday meal at home

Literally, mothers cook the favorite dishes of the birthday celebrant for the birthday meal to  be shared by family members and guests.

2.) Food delivery at home

 Having foods delivered at home is also a good alternative to save time from preparing and washing the dishes after. It's like enjoying the taste of your favorite dishes from a good restaurant in the comfort of your own home. Hitting 2 birds in one stone.

3.) Eating and dining out with friends and family

This birthday event is a perfect time to gather loved ones and enjoy special foods together to basically celebrate life and relationships too.

4.) After the birthday party, there is videoke night.

Nothing beats singing at the top of our lungs during this day. Singing is one of the favorite hobbies among Filipinos and birthdays are a good timing to do such activity. Of course, a little bit of drinking helps to boost the confidence to sing. 

5.) Some people prefer to spend their birthdays in the beach / pool.

It's a like a picnic style actually. You have a good setting, combined with your significant others and swimming definitely. It will surely be a birthday event to remember.

6.) Boodle fight

What it means? 

This originated from the Philippine military where piles of foods are served on the long table. Each hungry soldier eats with their bare hands  which symbolizes equality, brotherhood and camarederie. The word FIGHT basically means you have to grab and eat as much as you can and as fast as you can ahead of others or else you'll end up hungry. 

* The new version for boodle fight for birthday celebration is already a mix of seafoods, grilled meat, local fruits and grilled vegetables too. Still the practice of eating with our bare hands remain and is a good tradition somehow to pass on the next generation. 

IMPORTANT NOTE:

In any kind of birthday celebrations, PANSIT or NOODLES dish is always present in the set up. It just means this food literally looks like strands that siginify long life. Plus, if you can have the famous lechon (roasted pork)  on the table, is also an added bonus.

How about you guys? How do you celebrate your birthdays every year? Let's share ideas and interact.

As always, thanks for reading this blog entry. Have a good day and take care.

--Belle