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Thali

Next: 16 to 24 Dec 2026

Simbang Gabi

Nine dawn Masses before Christmas, each followed by warm rice cakes sold outside the church.

Catholic faithfuls troop to the Baclaran Church in Parañaque dawn Sunday (Dec. 16, 2018) for Simbang Gabi, a Filipino Christmas tradition. Simbang Gabi is a series of nine dawn masses held as early as 4 a.m. starting Dec
Photo: Avito C. Dalan for the Philippine News Agency, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

What is eaten for Simbang Gabi

From 16 to 24 December Filipino Catholics rise before dawn for nine Masses in honour of the Virgin Mary. When they come out, vendors are waiting in the churchyard. Bibingka is a rice cake baked in a clay pot lined with banana leaf, with coals above and below, and topped with salted egg, cheese and grated coconut. Puto bumbong is purple sticky rice steamed in bamboo tubes and served with butter, coconut and brown sugar. Hot ginger tea or thick chocolate warms the walk home.

The dishes

BibingkaRice cake baked between coals, sold after dawn Mass.Puto bumbóngPurple rice steamed in bamboo tubes.Ginger teaHot ginger tea for the cold morning.

Also part of it, and being written: Tsokolate (Thick hot chocolate from cacao tablets.).

About this page

Written by the Thali desk with AI assistance. Background: "Simbang Gabi" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from family to family and place to place. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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