The first “ber” month marked the start of early Christmas for Filipino Canadian Juliet Dayanghirang Francisco, who has transformed her north Winnipeg home into a Christmas wonderland.

From just a couple of families celebrating Christmas together, it has now become an annual major event for a neighbourhood in Maddington, Western Australia aimed at preserving Filipino traditions.

She spent the first seven years of her life in Bacolod, Philippines. She remembered what the Christmas season meant for her growing up. "We have something called Simbang Gabi, so it's midnight ...