Misa del Gallo
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Misa del Gallo (Spanish for "Rooster's Mass") is a Christmas custom that is practiced in the Philippines. For nine days, from December 16 to December 24, Filipinos attend dawn masses, which usually start at 5:00 a.m. This practice started centuries ago during the Spanish colonial period. Priests held early dawn masses for the farmers who wanted to attend Christmas mass but could not leave their fields. These masses were held before daybreak, hence the Filipino term "Simbang Gabi" ([Mid]night Mass). Even today, Filipinos wake up very early in the morning to attend the Misa de Gallo as an expression of devotion to God.
One of the customs related to the Misa de Gallo is the selling of traditional Philippine food, such as puto (a form of sweet rice cake) or tsokolate (a hot cocoa drink), which are sold by vendors outside the churches.es:Misa del Gallo
