It's a Saturday and it's a day for chilling for some of us. And we only have 35 more days to go before Christmas.....yey my most favorite time of the year.
Since Christmas is just around the corner, people have put up their lights, decors and trees. Some houses hang Christmas lanterns outside their houses, which symbolizes the star that guided the Three Kings to the newly born Jesus Christ. Whom they found in a manger, with Mary and Joseph by his side and surrounded by different farm animals.
Christmas lights are placed inside and outside the houses, some lights are star-shaped some are tree-shaped and some have elaborate designs and some lights dance to the beat of Christmas songs playing. Some lights seems like flowing water, some are twinkling fast and then slowing down before it blinks fast again. It's so wonderful watching them at night.
Here in the Philippines, we celebrate Christmas as early as the 16th of December. We always start off our celebration with our "simbang gabi", a holy mass at 4 a.m. on the 16th of December and ending on the 24th which is the Christmas Eve. It is believed that if completed your "simbang gabi" from the very beginning to the very last, your wish will come true. That's why churches are always full of mass goers.
And of course, after the mass, vendors are lined up outside the church selling "puto bumbong" and "bibingka".....the two most famous Christmas food here in our country. The season is not complete without these foods. "Puto bumbong" which is steamed grounded "pirurutong" rice is served with margarine, grated coconut and sugar on top. And "bibingka" a rice cake, has salted eggs, cheese and grated coconut on top.
On the 16th of December, children and adults too can start going around the neighborhood to go on carolling. They go from house to another house singing Christmas carols. Then the house ower gives them money as gift for them. Some do this for a cause, what they have collected from their carolling, they give to a charity which they have choosen as their beneficiary. Some buy gifts for the children in orphanages or foods for the street dwellers.
Some people do their kris kringle or exchange gifts or monita monita. Starting again on the 16th of December, they agree on what kind of gift and how much would it be. It may be something long, something soft, something sweet or anything that they could think of, setting a certain price to be fair to everyone participating, like it could be 20 to 50 pesos. And on the final day, the amount is larger of course, it could be 200 to 500 pesos. It's fun having this kind of activity, in the office or at home, with your family or friends.
Gifts are placed under the Christmas tree and ang paos are also placed hanging on the tree. You get to open yours on Christmas morning, guessing what's inside and praying that that's what you're wishing for. And hoping too that you get to pick the ang pao which has the highest amount of money.
Then there's our Noche Buena, special dishes are laid on the table, which the whole family feast upon when the clock hits 12 midnight on the 25th, signalling that it's Christmas already. Different dishes are in the table, like pasta, cake and other sweet desserts, fruits and hot choco drinks.
And on Christmas morning, the whole family now goes to church to attend the Holy Mass. And after mass, kids are brought by their parents to their godparents' houses to greet them and in return they give gifts to their grandchildren. Some give money while some give gifts and others give money and gifts.
Families go out and have a stroll in a park, spending the rest of the day just enjoying their time. Some go to the mall and eat in restaurants or fast food chains. Kids are allowed to play in amusement centers.
And that's how we celebrate our Christmas. ☺️❤️
