September 1 is here, and for Filipinos that can only mean one thing: the world’s longest Christmas season has officially begun. The ber months are a beloved national ritual, and this year the countdown to the big day starts all over again, parol and all.
What exactly are the ber months?
The term comes from the four months that end in “ber”: September, October, November and December. The Philippines marks the longest festive period in the world, kicking off in September and stretching into January.
When the season really swings into gear
The energy builds through the month. Radio stations start leaning on Christmas songs early, and the official 100-day countdown begins on September 16. By late October, homes and malls are strung with the star-shaped parol, the most iconic symbol of a Filipino Christmas.
The unmistakable signs it has begun
| Month | What starts |
|---|---|
| September | Christmas songs on air, countdown begins Sept 16 |
| October | Parol and decor go up, early gift shopping |
| November | Peak season after All Saints’ Day |
| December | Simbang Gabi, Noche Buena, Christmas Day |
Sellers call the run-up a retail peak. “For retail and business, the ber months are a peak period as Filipinos go all out in terms of shopping for gifts, decorating their homes and celebrating,” one mall executive told Arab News. Big holiday campaigns have already started landing, from Jollibee’s Simbang Gabi push to Coca-Cola’s giant Christmas drone show.
The one note of dissent
Not everyone cheers the early start. A Catholic bishop in Palawan has called the September launch a consumer-driven “social phenomenon” rather than a religious one, arguing the church celebrates Christmas only when the season truly arrives. For most Filipinos, though, hearing the first carols in September is simply what home sounds like.
