What is Pinoy Christmas . . . or as we fondly call it Paskong Pinoy?

What sets it apart from other Yuletide celebrations the world over? Even with the similarities on the way Christmas is celebrated around the world, there would always be a unique and special way in each.

Pinoy Christmas, apart from it being the biggest and unofficial longest Christmas celebrations anywhere else, is unique. With the Philippines’ beautiful customs and traditions, Pinoy Christmas has never been surpassed by any of the glam and glitz of the way other Christmases are celebrated abroad.

For the first Christmas Edition of Lasang Pinoy Food Blogging Event, we’ve asked fellow-Pinoy food bloggers around the world to share their experiences, thoughts, and most specially food they have for Christmas away from and back home in the Philippines.

And as what the following entries show, tradition knows no boundary, colour and language. The Filipinos’ innate talents, resourcefulness, innovativeness, and close family ties no matter what issues or conflicts may have accumulated over them through the years, always create a warm and unique Christmas atmosphere no matter where they are — with the spirit that is very much Pinoy through and through.

On a sleigh . . . or on a caritela . . . or whatever mode of transport is availabe in your neck of woods, let’s blog-hop now around the world and find out how each one fared during the last Christmas season, with this very late round-up . . .

The AMERICAS and CANADA . . .

After weeks of travelling and househunting, it’s “Less is More” over at Stefoodieover at this Christmas. “Less” with simplest food ever, and “More,” knowing that however simple and humble one table could ever be, nothing beats the warmth and joy this simple feast brings when shared with loved ones.

In the American South, and still recovering from a turkey dosage of the recent Thanksgiving holidays, JMom tries out something new and different this Yuletide season in their own kitchen with a spread for Christmas Eve and Christmas Dinner which looks like a prelude to another major Asian holiday this month. Oke LAH ! :-)

It’s a WET CHRISTMAS for the the once-reluctant-blogger, to a now-blog-addict DIY-Chef Ces and her family at EssenCes in New York this year! Sharing the limelight are: hubby Marco with his own specialty and their two kids dabbling ala-DIY-MomCes with their own little creations.

Guess this round-up is really late, huh! Tee hee . . . Where’s my fave Crema? Well, before I came here and did my rounds, there were loads of it and other sweet temptations on Phisch’s Christmas Eve Fare at Food In That Number.

Dexie, our Ilocana Chef opted for a Minimized Christmas Dinner after finding out that the stork has once again paid her a visit. Congratulations ! Very minimalist indeed — with nine or so dishes? Did I count them right? Phisch, help !!! :-)

So I heard, this gracious accountant also has had some difficulties counting recently, too?! Tee hee! Well folks, I’ll leave that for all of you to find out! Canada’s Ting-Aling at World Class CuiScene proves that Christmas in the Philippines is worth coming home for.

Also in Canada, Ben S at Bennissimo had the Lab Rats working frantically to perfect his Recipe for the season of potluck Christmas parties.

EUROPE . . .

It was a hectic Christmas season over at English Patis. London’s Pinay Dessert Diva Celia Kusinera shares a ‘ morphed ‘ Christmas Eve dinner mains and a ‘ humongous ‘ [ i love big stuff ! ] specialty — dessert, of course!

Via Athens, Wanderlust Sha relates memories of her childhood Christmases back home; her 21 Christmases away from home travelling and the longing for homegrown Pinoy fare. Read on what she had for Christmas 2005 . . .

The MIDDLE EAST . . .

From the arid deserts of the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East, Manong Roy of Lutong Disyerto takes some time off his busy work sked, to join us in the 5th Edition of Lasang Pinoy, and share a recipe, paying tribute to ingenuity and expertise.

The PHILIPPINES, ASIA, and BEYOND . . .

A little Christmas food mystery here, and some sleuth-job for ethno-wiz and problogger Pilgrim Karen of Pampanga with her very intriguing Sopas entry. Put on your thinking caps and magnifying glasses ready!

An Uprooted Pinoy Christmas in the Philippines. Sweet Bucaio Kai of Pangasinan, spends time with her family like most Pinoys everywhere do during the Christmas season.

From a family of non-traditionalists in Manila, 80 Breakfasts’ Joey shares a traditional Pinoy fare, enjoyed in a very un-traditional Noche Buena sked.

Recovering from her December database disaster, Pinay Blog Queen Sassy of Pinoy Cook makes it up with two entries in this edition of Lasang Pinoy — A Puto Bumbong Story and a family tradition, Fruit Cakes.

It’s another interesting Asian Noche Buena fare over at Mirsbin’s Kitchen this year, highlighting a very popular and yummy Thai dish.

Wysgal of Rants and Raves, who seems to be preparing good food all year through, does not particularly excited anymore about food during the Christmas season. However, Good Company, more than makes up for anything else during the festive season.

From the very ‘fine’ city of Singapore, Kayli of Ang Sarap Talaga, shares their Noche Buena fare prepared by members of her family. Indeed, the family that cooks together, stays together!

With her son Cean’s doodle of LP5 Icon, Iska of Edible Experiments in Beijing, cooks Leche Flan away from home for her entry. A last-minute decision to fly back home for the Christmas holidays resulted on a second entry and an interesting discovery !

Ala EH ! Into the groove now of all LP Blog Events, my inaanak Joji here in Brunei, guest-blogs for the second time around with an interesting entry and a sneak peak on the days-gone-by of the prayles in the Philippines.

Coerced and guest-blogging [ er, should I say guest-cooking? ] for the second time around in this LP Event with his Meatloaf entry, is colleague cabalen Jovic, with some memories of his first Christmas being a father . . .

And finally, an ‘ impromptu ‘ Christmas celebrations this year over at Lafang in the Green Heart of Borneo, Brunei, the land of Brunayukis !

Ohmygass ! [ Bum Tenorio, there goes the legacy you left here in Brunei! ] :-)

So, mga ka-baro’t saya, a million thanks to all of you for participating in the First Christmas Edition of Lasang Pinoy Food Blogging Event - Pinoy Christmas Around The World. Mabuhay !

See you in the next Lasang Pinoy Event . . . PULUTAN TIME ! with Ting-Aling at World Class CuiScene . . .

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