Christmas is indeed the most wonderful time of the year, for Christ's was born and family have gathered together.
Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling."--Edna Ferber
*Image is credited to Rain Tajon via www.bitlanders.com
What is Christmas?
How do you celebrate Christmas?
Here is how we celebrate Christmas. Simple celebration with the family, but we see more than the festivity.
Christmas decors.
Before the month of December, I make sure to have every decorations for Christmas ready. For years, I have been doing the same thing, putting the same decorations and I am glad that no one have questioned me of having the same sight. Well, it wasn't bad at all.
I have this garlands on the staircase with balls and plastic poinsettias, Christmas tree where my nephews and nieces hang their socks and the most important of all is the "Belen" or the Nativity Scene for it is the reason why we have the celebration.
We don't put Christmas lights for I am quite scared doing something with electricity and lights and our neighbors have already lighten the whole area so, I'd rather share the light with them.
My niece posing on the stairs.
*Image is credited to Rain Tajon via www.bitlanders.com
Our Belen
*Image is credited to Rain Tajon via www.bitlanders.com
Christmas Food.
For the last few years, we always have this "lechon" or roasted whole pig as the "main star" of our table. Ours is the native pig or the free range ones, it is tastier and cheaper at the same time. The size is just enough for us, by the way we have a big family, hence the whole pig is indeed just fine.
With the pig, we buy one pig, then asked someone to roast it for us. It is much cheaper than buying those that are being bought on a store and ready to eat and also, we get to see the quality too. And we got the chance to see how it is done, the number of hours watching how the pig was being roasted in an open charcoal. It is quite exciting.
Aside for the lechon, we have the family's favorite too, the pansit or stir fried noodles. One of my sister would prepare and cook for us, her pansit has always been the best among us and also the kids' favorite.
For the dessert, macaroni salad won't be missed. Prepared on the 24th and have it refrigerated and chilled and be ready to be eaten for the Noche Buena.
We seem to have a lot of food but food has always been our family's way of bonding.
Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the love of God and family and to create memories that will last forever."--Joel Osteen
Stir fried noodles or pansit.
*Image is credited to Rain Tajon via www.bitlanders.com
Roasted whole pig or lechon.
*Image is credited to Rain Tajon via www.bitlanders.com
Christmas means family time.
Having siblings that are in the law enforcement, it is hard to make time with them even in special occasions. But my brothers always make sure that they get the Christmas break instead of the New Year duty. And this year, I am glad we got the chance to celebrate again with them, somehow the family is quite complete.
Since I have siblings overseas, though last year, one took his vacation for Christmas, this time, he didn't. What we just do is video called them, and one thing I am thankful for with the internet, making the distance shorter.
With the kids, they always make sure to have some time playing, not with the gadgets, but without the use of it. They always go on the street, play some ball game or play badminton and this time, jack stones too. The little ones, they surely play with dolls, play doh and stuffed toys.
*Image is credited to Rain Tajon via www.bitlanders.com
Among us, bonding time is spent in the kitchen. We help each other in preparing food, in every meal that we share. Sharing every news like my sister-in-law is 6 weeks pregnant, laughing about what had happened to each one of us. We got to talked about everything, and I am praying that it will be the same again next year. Hoping it will be more family members celebrating with us.
While other family is celebrating it with gift giving, ours is more of, collecting the money on the socks we have hanged on the Christmas tree.
The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than in things ."--Thomas S. Monson
Christmas is celebrating with the Lord.
The center of the celebration is celebrating with the Lord Jesus Christ. We make sure to attend the mass on the 25th, maybe not the whole family is going, at least most of us are going.
On my part, I attended the earliest schedule since our barangay is the sponsor and I know the church is not crowded yet. And on the next schedule, other members will be going.
Aren't we all should be indeed seeing the meaning of Christmas?
Christmas gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the important things around us--a time when we can look back on the year that has passed and prepare for the year ahead."--David Cameron
What is Christmas for us.
Christmas day means family. It is the time when Jesus Christ was born, it had completed a family with Mary and Joseph. More than the festive food and gifts, we make sure to have the day spent well with the family.
And also Christmas is meant with Christ. We have to think about why He was born and why He was pun on earth. And it is also the time to give back to what He had done. Give back the love, give back the kindness and give back the sacrifice. Not just within our family but to the others as well.
May we all see what is behind the celebration for than just receiving money and gifts and of food. May we all be more of the giving as what have God have gave to us.
*Image is credited to Rain Tajon via www.bitlanders.com
For it is in giving that we receive." St. Francis of Assisi
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Have a Merry Christmas everyone and more fruitful 2018 ahead.
*Video is credited to maypagasa via www.youtube.com
