Christmas in the Philippines, one of two predominantly Catholic countries in Asia (the other one being East Timor), is one of the biggest holidays on the calendar and is widely celebrated. The country has earned the distinction of celebrating the world's longest Christmas season, with Christmas carols heard as early as September 1 when the "Ber Months" season kicks off traditionally. The season is officially ushered in by the nine-day dawn Masses that start on December 16. Known as the "Misas de Aguinaldo" (Gift Masses) or "Misa de Gallo" (Rooster's Mass) in the traditional Spanish, these Masses are more popularly known in Tagalog as the "Simbang Gabi", and are held in Catholic parishes and chapels nationwide. Usually, aside from the already legal holidays which are Rizal Day (December 30) and New Year's Eve (December 31), other days in close proximity such as Christmas Eve (December 24), "Niños Inocentes" (December 28), and the Epiphany (traditionally, January 6 but now on the first Sunday of January) are also declared non-working days.