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Christmas with kids in Baguio
Baguio's name comes from bagiw, the Ibaloi word for moss, and its chilly mountain air makes Christmas here feel different from anywhere else in the Philippines. From soldiers handing out candy as Saint Nicholas to lantern parades on Session Road and trees decorated with Cordillera cloth, here is the story of how the Summer Capital celebrates Christmas, plus traditions your family can enjoy together.
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Baguio Country Club Christmas Village: Christmas in Candyland
When: Daily until Jan 3, 2027: Mon to Thu 10am to 10pm, Fri to Sun 10am to 11pm
Where: Baguio Country Club, Baguio
Cost: PHP 130 for children 8 to 12, PHP 150 for adults; Two-in-One with the Flora and Fauna Park PHP 100 for ages 4 to 7
The story of Christmas in Baguio
Kafagway, the Place of Moss
Long before it was a Christmas city, Baguio was an Ibaloi village called Kafagway. The name Baguio comes from bagiw, an Ibaloi word for moss, and the Spaniards spelled it Baguio. The Ibaloi are one of about eleven peoples of the Cordillera, the mountain region of northern Luzon, whose peoples are often called Igorot, a word that comes from golot, meaning mountain. Spanish friars tried to set up a mission at Tonglo in 1755 but were driven out the next year, and in 1846 the Spaniards organized Benguet into 31 rancherias, including Kafagway. Gongs called gangsa are important in Cordillera culture, and they are still played at community gatherings today.
A Hill Station Planned for Cool Weather
In 1900 Baguio was set up as an American hill station, a cool mountain retreat. In 1903 land was set aside for Camp John Hay, and Kennon Road was built to reach the mountains. American planner Daniel Burnham drew up a city plan around 1904 to 1905, with a central park that later took his name, and the city was meant for about 25,000 people. Session Road took its name from the first sessions of the First Philippine Commission, held at Baden Powell Hall. Baguio became a chartered city on September 1, 1909, the same year it was nicknamed the Summer Capital because it is typically 7 to 10 degrees Celsius cooler than the lowlands. Today close to 400,000 people live there.
Santa and Candy on Session Road
Camp John Hay was completed in 1913 and stayed in American hands until July 1, 1991. In the 1970s and 1980s, American soldiers there gave out candy to local children while dressed as Saint Nicholas, and a charity called Share a Joy, hosted by civic groups and the camp's American commanders, gave donated gifts to poor families. In 1973 local media workers started Silahis ng Pasko, a Christmas parade along Session Road toward Burnham Park, where children as young as 4 dress as characters and animals from the Nativity story. Many residents remember organizer Narciso Padilla handing out lollipops on Session Road that first year. Volunteers still collect money and goods for children in hospitals on Christmas Day.
Baguio's Cool Weather
The city's lowest recorded temperature is 6.3 degrees Celsius, set on January 18, 1961, and its rainfall of over 3,914 mm a year is the highest in the country.
Christmas Becomes a Citywide Celebration
Over the years, Baguio's holiday season grew into a month of events. By 2018, officials noted that Christmas in Baguio had drawn tourists and residents for over 20 years. The season opens around December 1 with the lighting of the city's Christmas tree and a lantern parade. In 2015, Session Road was planned to close to traffic for the day, with day care kids in costume starting a children's Mardi Gras at 8 a.m. and the tree lit at 6:27 p.m. during a countdown with fireworks. During the holidays a nightly lights and sounds offering runs at People's Park at the foot of Session Road, and grand fireworks were scheduled for December 24 and 31. In 2018 the weather was about 12.4 degrees Celsius during the parade.
Cordillera Art Joins the Christmas Tree
In recent years, Baguio has used its Christmas trees to share Cordillera culture. In 2017 the city planned a giant art installation at the Session Road rotunda by Tinatik artist Maela Liwanag Jose, shaped like a Christmas tree and telling a creation story with Cordillera symbols such as the bulul, a lizard and tattoo patterns. In 2018 a 23-meter steel tree in the Rose Garden of Burnham Park was decorated with handwoven fabric from Cordillera provinces and recycled materials, under the theme Christmas of unified cultural people. By 2024 a tree by architect Nikki Monica Perez, with stained-glass-style panels, stood on the Session Road roundabout, and the Baguio Christmas Market, inspired by European Christmas fairs, opened at the Rose Garden.
Traditions today
- Watch the tree lighting and SLU Lantern Parade on Session Road: After the city tree is lit, Saint Louis University students carry hand-crafted lanterns down Session Road. The 2024 parade was the 16th, with lanterns shaped like cultural icons from different countries.
- Cheer at the Silahis ng Pasko parade: Pupils and children as young as 4 march in costumes of Nativity characters, animals and objects along Session Road. The parade has been a charity event since 1973, collecting money and goods for children in hospitals on Christmas Day.
- Visit the Baguio Christmas Market at Burnham Park: Inspired by European Christmas fairs, the market at the Rose Garden has themed stores, rides, regular shows and a water fountain and light show. In 2024 it opened on November 28.
- See the lights and sounds at People's Park: At the foot of Session Road, a nightly lights and sounds offering has followed the tree lighting, and the city has also scheduled grand fireworks on December 24 and 31.
- Go to Simbang Gabi: The dawn or anticipated Masses before Christmas are held at Baguio Cathedral, and in 2024 the city also held Simbang Gabi at the Rose Garden from December 15 to 23.
- Share gongs and dance: Cordillera families often open Christmas gatherings with gong playing and group dancing. The examples come from Cordillera communities abroad, where the customs travel with families.
- Warm up with Baguio treats: Families enjoy strawberry taho, tsokolate made from cacao beans at Choco-late de Batirol in Camp John Hay served with suman or bibingka, and camote bread made with mashed sweet potato.
A fact for kids
In Baguio, children as young as 4 march down Session Road dressed as Nativity characters and animals, and the city's name comes from an Ibaloi word for moss!
Questions about Christmas in Baguio
Why is Baguio called the Summer Capital of the Philippines?
Baguio was nicknamed the Summer Capital in 1909 because its mountain climate is typically 7 to 10 degrees Celsius cooler than the lowlands. Americans first set it up in 1900 as a hill station, a cool mountain retreat, and Daniel Burnham planned the city a few years later. That cool air is a big part of why Christmas in Baguio feels so special to many families.
Where does the name Baguio come from?
Baguio comes from bagiw, an Ibaloi word for moss. Before it was called Baguio, the area was known as Kafagway, an Ibaloi village, and the Spaniards spelled the name Baguio. The city is also nicknamed the City of Pines. Kids may enjoy knowing that a mountain city famous for Christmas lights is named after a tiny soft plant.
Who were the first people of Baguio?
The Ibaloi people were the original inhabitants of the Baguio area, which was once an Ibaloi village called Kafagway. They are one of about eleven Cordillera peoples, often called Igorot, a word from golot, meaning mountain, though many now prefer to say Cordillera peoples. Ibaloi dances include the bendian, which was first a victory dance and later a celebration dance.
Who planned the city of Baguio?
American architect and planner Daniel Burnham drew up the plan for Baguio around 1904 to 1905. He modeled the layout on Washington, D.C., with a civic core and a central park that later took his name, and he planned for about 25,000 people. Today close to 400,000 people live in Baguio, about eight times the original plan.
Why is it called Session Road?
Session Road is named for the first sessions of the First Philippine Commission, which were held at Baden Powell Hall, now Baden Inn. Commission members included Governor-General Luke Wright, Benito Legarda and William Cameron Forbes. On opening night of the Christmas season the street has been closed to traffic for the lantern parade and decorated with lights and lanterns.
How cold does Baguio get at Christmas?
Baguio is chilly but not freezing. Average temperatures are around 15 to 23 degrees Celsius, and it was about 12.4 degrees Celsius during the parade on the 2018 tree lighting weekend. The lowest temperature ever recorded in the city was 6.3 degrees Celsius on January 18, 1961. Pack sweaters and jackets for little ones, especially for evening visits.
When does the Christmas season officially start in Baguio?
The season has traditionally opened around December 1 with the lighting of the city's Christmas tree, a lantern parade and fireworks. In 2018 the lights and sounds at People's Park began on the first weekend of December, and in 2024 the Baguio Christmas Market opened even earlier, on November 28. The 2024 celebration ended with a closing ceremony on January 5, 2025.
What is Silahis ng Pasko in Baguio?
Silahis ng Pasko is a children's Christmas parade along Session Road toward Burnham Park. Pupils and children as young as 4 dress as characters, animals and objects from the Nativity story. Local media workers founded it in 1973, with Narciso Padilla as a key organizer, and it is also a charity drive where volunteers collect money or goods for children in hospitals on Christmas Day.
Did Santa really hand out candy in Baguio in the old days?
Yes, in the 1970s and 1980s, American soldiers at Camp John Hay gave out candy to children while dressed as Saint Nicholas. Narciso Padilla, the Silahis ng Pasko organizer, has also dressed as Santa at Burnham Park, where children gathered around him for candy. One article calls Santa a nonreligious icon that suits Baguio's multicultural population.
What was the Share a Joy program?
Share a Joy is a Baguio Christmas program that distributes resident-donated gifts to poor families. It was hosted by civic groups together with the American military commanders of Camp John Hay. When Camp John Hay's new administrator, John Hay Management Corp., took over, it began reviving the program, which is a nice example to show kids that Christmas is about sharing.
What is the SLU Lantern Parade on Session Road?
It is a lantern parade by Saint Louis University that follows the Christmas tree lighting and goes down Session Road. In 2018 students hand-crafted most of the lanterns around the theme of Christmas in countries where CICM mission stations are located, and the lanterns carried powerbanks to keep them lit. The 2024 parade was the 16th, with lanterns shaped like cultural icons from different countries.
Where can kids see a giant Christmas tree in Baguio?
In 2018 the giant tree stood in the Rose Garden at Burnham Park, 23 meters tall, made of steel and decorated with handwoven Cordillera fabric and recycled materials. In 2017 a 74-foot recycled tree stood there, and in 2024 a stained-glass-style tree stood on the Session Road roundabout. For this year's locations, see our Baguio Christmas events guide.
Why does Baguio's Christmas tree look different from year to year?
Baguio's city trees are often one of a kind. In 2017 a Session Road installation by Tinatik artist Maela Liwanag Jose, shaped like a tree, told a Cordillera creation story with the bulul, a lizard and tattoo patterns. In 2018 the Rose Garden tree used handwoven fabric under the theme Christmas of unified cultural people, and in 2024 architect Nikki Monica Perez designed a stained-glass-style tree.
How do Cordillera gongs fit into Christmas gatherings?
Gongs called gangsa are important in Cordillera culture, and Cordillera families often open Christmas parties by playing them and dancing together. At a 2020 gathering in New Zealand, men played seven brass gongs while women danced in an outer circle, and a Canadian group had elders lead gong playing. These examples come from communities abroad, but they show customs that travel with families.
What are the Christmas villages and gardens in Baguio?
Baguio is known for the Baguio Country Club Christmas Village, and in 2024 the Baguio Botanical Garden was decorated as the Botanical Christmas Garden with Faith, Hope and Love. The Botanical Garden has also been known for its Christmas Around the World display. For this year's schedule and tickets, see our Baguio Christmas events guide.
What warm treats do families enjoy in Baguio at Christmas?
Families warm up with strawberry taho, which uses fresh strawberry chunks and strawberry syrup instead of arnibal. They also drink tsokolate made from cacao beans at Choco-late de Batirol in Camp John Hay, served with suman or bibingka, and eat camote bread made with mashed sweet potato. Good Shepherd Convent in Gibraltar is recommended for strawberry jam.
Is there a Christmas market in Baguio?
Yes, the Baguio Christmas Market opened on November 28 in 2024 at the Rose Garden of Burnham Park. It is inspired by European Christmas fairs, with themed stores, rides, regular shows and a water fountain and light show. For current dates and hours, see our Baguio Christmas events guide.
When is Simbang Gabi in Baguio?
Simbang Gabi, the series of dawn or anticipated Masses before Christmas, was on the 2018 December calendar at Baguio Cathedral. In 2024 the city also held Simbang Gabi at the Rose Garden from December 15 to 23. Dates and places can change each year, so check with your parish and see our Baguio Christmas events guide.
What is the nightly light and sound show at People's Park?
After the 2018 tree lighting, a nightly lights and sounds offering ran at People's Park at the foot of Session Road throughout the holidays. A city councilor said its budget was up to 1.5 million pesos in 2017. Grand fireworks displays were also scheduled for December 24 and 31 in 2018.
Sources
- Baguio, Wikipedia (mirror)
- 10 places in Baguio that remind us why it's still 'Little America', Rappler
- Baguio City, the Summer Capital, TagalogLang
- Igorot people, Wikipedia
- Christmastime officially begins in Baguio as mercury drops, PTV News
- Baguio's tale of two Christmas trees, SunStar Baguio
- Baguio City to mount 2 Christmas trees, SunStar Baguio
- Baguio lights up for Christmas, Daily Tribune
- 'Silahis ng Pasko' opens Baguio holiday program, Philippine Daily Inquirer
- Christmas in Baguio opens December 1, SunStar
- Baguio City: Treats to warm up the Yuletide Season, Crown Asia
- How Kiwi Filipinos from the Cordillera celebrate Christmas, Asia Media Centre
- Sungduan: Christmas gathering, SunStar Baguio
- 5 reasons why Baguio is the Philippines' Christmas haven, Pilipinas Popcorn