It's the most wonderful time of the year.
Photo credits: Yannn via bitlanders.com
This is one of the most popular quote that you'll hear if Christmas season is near. And yes, it's finally here! As for me, the said quote is the perfect description of this season. Maybe other people thought about it too. Especially for us Filipinos that majority of our population are Christians and believed in Christ (who celebrated His birthday on Christmas). For others, Christmas is all about celebration, reunion of every families. An opportunity to see your love ones all together from every part of the globe. For some, it is about bonuses from work, 13th month pay and Christmas bonuses (who doesn't want money nowadays right?) and also gift giving. Others conceptualized Christmas as a season of giving, so it became a tradional for us to give gifts to our loved ones and friends. Just like other people, my concept about Christmas was all of the above. So this time, I'll tour you to what is my Christmas all about.
But first what is Christmas all about?
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ,observed most commonly on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it is preceded by the season of Advent or the Nativity Fast and initiates the season of Christmastide, which historically in the West lasts twelve days and culminates on Twelfth Night; in some traditions, Christmastide includes an Octave. Christmas Day is a public holiday in many of the world's nations, is celebrated religiously by a majority of Christians, as well as culturally by many non-Christians, and forms an integral part of the holiday season. In several countries, celebrating Christmas Eve has the main focus rather than Christmas Day.
-Source: Wikipedia via google.com.ph
In our country, we celebrate Christmas in many ways. One indication that Christmas season is approaching is when the calendar turned September (very early right?) this is what we call "Ber months" so when September started, we Filipinos already can feel the Christmas vibes. You can even see different channels having a countdown until December 25, and believe me or not that countdown really hypes people. So when september started, people are so excited to decorate their houses with different types of Christmas decor.
Photo Credits: Yannn via bitlanders.com
Christmas is also the time to unleash your hidden Creativity in decorating your houses. It is also popular in our country to have some tourist spots wherein they decorate the whole place, filled it with Christmas decors and lightings. One of our all time favorite spot to hang out is on "Ayala Triangle" wherein you can find he famous "Dancing lights" or what they call now "Festival of lights". Well it doesn't literally mean that the lights are dancing. It is when the lights are synchronizing with the music, and most of the music are Christmas songs. The said "Dancing lights" does have schedule, as of today I know that they are already operating. The schedule where at night starting 7pm (that was based last year, i haven't tried to go this year yet) until 10pm. Of course, lights are better when it is dark so I assume if you have plans to go, you will not go there in the morning or in the afternoon because there will be no Dancing lights show. Hehe Me and my family celebrate our Christmas night there for 2 years together with my cousins and aunties and it is always relaxing to just sit down, watch the lights dancing while listening to Christmas music. I just don't know if we will be spending our Christmas there this year, we'll see about that
Here's a clip of the Dancing lights in Ayala Triangle:
Source: Sean T. Victorio via youtube.com
Aside from decorating, one tradition that you'll notice in our country is the outnumbered Christmas party everywhere. As far as I remember since I was in Elementary Student, we already have Christmas party conducted in our school. Up until now that I am already working. Last year I attended several Christmas party, we have one in our Chruch, one in our Department in work and one in our Group division. So having Christmas parties to attend to is really tiring sometimes but it was fun too. The parties consist of celebration by eating delicious foods (foods cannot be absent in this kind of occasion) then we have programs. Like the theme of our IBG (Institutional Banking Group Division) last year was "Nations of the world" and the country that was assigned to us was korea.
Here are our group photo during IBG party last year:
Photo Credits: Yannn via bitlanders.com
It was fun dressing up especially it is not your usual attire. Aside from that there are exchange gifts. Wherein you will have someone that you are obliged to give a gift and you will have something in return too. We call this "Monito-Monita" also known as Kris Kringle. This year we have our monito-monita every friday of December wherein we have theme every friday. Last last friday our theme was something soft and I received a bread. Haha! This last week our theme is something red and I received a chocolate. Thia week it is about something long, and I have no idea what to give yet! Then on the next next week there we will give our major gift that is indicated in our wishlist.
Here's a glimpse of our wishlist:
Photo credits: Yannn via bitlanders.com
Aside from parties, Christmas season is also known as the start of "Simbang Gabi". It is a filipino tradition wherein you'll go to church for 9 days until the birth of Christ.
Photo credits: beyond deadlines via beyonddeadlines.com
Simbáng Gabi (Filipino for "Night Mass") is a devotional nine-day series of Masses practiced by Roman Catholics and Aglipayans in the Philippines in anticipation of Christmas and to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is similar to the nine-day series of dawn masses leading to Christmas Eve practiced in Puerto Rico called Misa de Aguinaldo.
-Source: wikipedia.org
When people says "Simbang Gabi", it is also associate with some filipino delicious food called bibingka (a type of rice cake from Philippines and Indonesia, usually eaten during the breakfast and Christmas season. It is traditionally cooked in clay pots lined with banana leaves -source: wikipedia.org) and puto bumbong (a traditional cylindrical-shaped and green-colored steamed cake. The cake is made of rice flour with green color acquired from pandan leaf called suji, filled with palm sugar, and steamed in bamboo tube, hence its name, and served with grated coconut -source: wikipedia.org).
Photo credits: Inquirer News via INQUIRER.net
Some says that if you complete the "Simbang Gabi" and make a wish, your wish will be granted. But I believed that "Simbang Gabi" is more than wishing to God what you want, attending church for Him to grant it. For me it is a celebration in which we commemorate the Birth of Christ. Like a preparation as we wait for our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Okay moving forward, after Simbang gabi we also have Caroling! If you're a Filipino kid and haven't tried to do caroling I must say your childhood is incomplete. Caroling is when you go to your neighborhood and sing Christmas Carols. And as a reward they'll give you money after you sing. It is such a Joy to see those children sing so many Christmas songs. I've experienced this so many times when I was a kid and it was such an unforgettable experience whether they will give you a reward or not.
Here's a clip of Children singing Christmas Carols:
Source: ABS-CBN Entertainment via youtube.com
Indeed we Filipinos have so many ways and traditions how we celebrate Christmas in our country. The festive spirit will never be absent in this kind of season. But also let us not forget the real meaning of the season we are celebrating, it is the Birth of our savior Jesus Christ.
Photo credits: capemaycountyherald.com via google.com
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
-Isaiah 9:6 NKJV
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy new year!!
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Thank you for reading!
