Ten reasons why the `Pinoy’ Christmas is tops December 31, 2005
Posted by Anton in News Lite.trackback
Anonymous
Filipinos wholeheartedly love to celebrate the holidays, and forthem, the best holiday of all has got to be Christmas. In this
largely Catholic country, the Christmas experience goes beyond
singing carols and seeing bright lanterns on the streets. It is also
the best time for keeping long-standing family traditions. We Pinoys are truly fortunate to have Christmas to cherish each year, and I reckon these are 10 best reasons why.
1. Endless bargains, bazaars and tiangge adventures. I often wonder
why the Philippines has never been branded as a shoppers’ paradise.
Maybe not enough tourists have seen our markets during the holidays.
With great bargains, bazaars and tiangges around town, you’ll need a
whole month to check out the assorted merchandise that would make
perfect Christmas gifts.
2. Colorful capiz lanterns that light up the streets. Come the first
week of December, the most colorful and often ornate lanterns light
up street posts and office facades. The Pinoys are truly ingenious
for creating affordable plastic lantern versions of colorful
patterns originally made from capiz shells.
3. Puto bumbong and bibingka. Christmas will never be complete
without the piping hot rice cakes and purple-colored sticky rice
with sugar and coconut. Cooked in traditional smoking pottery, the
puto bumbong and bibingka make for the perfect breakfast after
hearing dawn masses. These age-old favorite treats embody true
Filipino cuisine that everyone simply enjoys.
4. Charity galore. The Yuletide expectedly brings out the kind-
hearted side of the Pinoy. During this time of the year, everyone
willingly shells out and shares the most they can with the less
fortunate.
5. Red envelopes and aginaldo. When I was a kid, receiving a crisp
orange P20 bill was a real treat. The aginaldo sometimes had to be
earned, however, as we would have to sing or dance ala Aldeguer back
then. Then after each Christmas Day, my cousins and I would hie off
to the nearest Magnolia ice cream house to splurge on chocolate
marshmallow sundaes with our aginaldos. We felt like we had made our
first million back then. Nowadays, the aginaldo often comes in
bright red envelopes for kids to keep.
6. The dusky, cool Christmas weather. The hazy, cold December
mornings make the city a nice place to be in. Even better is driving
off to Baguio—probably the closest thing to spending the holidays as
if one were in San Francisco. Well, for the fashionista Pinoys,
December is the only time one can don and show off those chic
jackets and turtleneck shirts.
7. Early morning Misa de Gallo. It is amazing how this centuries-old
Midnight Mass tradition introduced by the Spanish friars has endured
for almost 300 years. Waking up half-groggy to hear dawn Masses for
nine consecutive days is a novena most Catholics still observe
solemnly. Honestly, it is quite a feat to wake up after an evening
of partying and dancing.
8. The Christmas Belen. The Nativity scene has now been rendered in
so many ways but still depicts Jesus in the manger. Whatever home or
church you go to, the Christmas Belen embodies the true Christian
spirit of how our faith is so central in our lives.
9. Noche Buena. From the traditional queso de bola, jamon, chocolate
eh and pan de sal ensemble, the Noche Buena (or Christmas Eve
Dinner) is the most-awaited family banquet. The Noche Buena with
complete Christmas trimmings make even the simplest meal a feast to
remember.
10. Family reunions. Even if it means traveling continents away,
Filipinos make every effort to come home for family reunions during
the holidays. The Yuletide season is truly the most wonderful and
meaningful celebration with kith and kin to share with. And this
perhaps is the first reason why Pinoy Christmas is simply tops!
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