Next: 16 to 24 Dec 2026
Simbang Gabi
Nine dawn masses before Christmas, followed by a breakfast of puto bumbong and bibingka outside the church.
When is Simbang Gabi in 2026?
Simbang Gabi 2026 runs from 16 to 24 December 2026. Other years: 2027, 16 to 24 December 2027; 2028, 16 to 24 December 2028.
About Simbang Gabi
Simbang Gabi, which means "night mass" in Filipino, is a novena of nine Masses held at dawn from 16 December to Christmas Eve, a custom brought to the Philippines by Spanish missionaries so that farmers could attend before work. Many Filipinos complete all nine in the belief that a wish will be granted. Churches are lit with parols, star-shaped bamboo and paper lanterns, and outside, vendors sell puto bumbong, steamed purple rice cakes, and bibingka, rice cakes baked on banana leaf, with hot tsokolate or salabat, ginger tea. The Misa de Gallo that ends it is held on Christmas Eve, followed by the family's Noche Buena. The Philippines is known for the longest Christmas season in the world.
Simbang Gabi dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Simbang Gabi date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 16 to 24 December 2026 |
| 2027 | 16 to 24 December 2027 |
| 2028 | 16 to 24 December 2028 |
What is eaten
- puto bumbong
- bibingka
- salabat
- tsokolate
Traditions of Simbang Gabi
Also part of it, and being written: Puto bumbong (The purple rice cake of the season.), Noche Buena (The midnight Christmas Eve meal.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Simbang Gabi" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. 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.
- Parol: Ervin Malicdem, CC BY-SA 4.0, source