Christmas in the Philippines

Christmas in the Philippines: How to explain? There are several interesting traditions the Filipinos hold that, forgive me if you like them, I think are rediculous! First is one called a “Merry Christmas”. The phrase has been turned into a verb here and is similar to trick or treating, but is basically the poor going to the nicer (middle class) houses and begging. Second, is a Spanish tradition called Noche Buena and it is a feast held at midnight of Christmas Eve. My question is who wants to eat at 12 o’clock at night? Third, is something I forget the name of; it’s where one attends 9 masses before Christmas at 4 in the morning in order to get one wish. Also, the Filipino Christmas lasts really from Christmas day till January 6th, which is another holiday called Three Kings Day or just Kings Day, giving us twelve days of Christmas. So you can see that in the midst of palm trees and sunny days I am surrounded by people crazy about Christmas with their odd traditions. :) 

  Now one thing that has been fun being here is learning different family’s traditions-little ones that is. Do you have Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve or Christmas day? Do you do stockings or as my new Romanian friend does it shoes by the door? Do you have a special breakfast like cinnamon rolls? and etc? It makes me think of the traditions I’d like to do with my own family some day.  

   So, for Christmas Eve I helped bake home-made buns and started making the eggnog recipe that my mom gave to me over skype. I got on an FX and met up with Hope and Leah and Hope’s mom and Aunt and Leah’s sister Melissa for dinner at a mall near the church I’ve been attending. We ate dinner and then headed over to a wonderful Christmas Eve service at the church at 10 o’clock where we all lit little candles and sang Christmas songs together and read the Christmas story. It was really beautiful. Afterwards we caught a cab back to Leah and Hopes temporary residence ( a missionary’s house who was out of town for the holidays) and there Leah and Melissa included us in on their family’s Christmas tradition of getting new matching pjs and wearing them. : ) 

  Christmas morning I woke up early walked to the gate with Leah caught a cab to the FX station and rode back in time to help with “Merry Christmas”. We handed out 7 tons of rice, many balloons, crayons, and toys. After this I took a little nap and then we headed off to Deborah and Darren’s house where we had cinnamon rolls and fruit for breakfast and opened stockings. They made me feel so included in their family and provided me with a stocking of my own that was full to the top and a gift from Sandy Claus who was the traditional gift giver of Jeri’s family growing up. We then headed back over to Jeri’s house for present opening and preparation for Christmas dinner. Around 3:15 we had people show up for the dinner and I started the finish of my eggnog. Eggnog is not sold in this country so it was a special treat to have it especially for those who’ve been here for several Christmas’s. So all the women just took over the kitchen and wala we had a beautiful and delicious Christmas dinner! Jeri, Sara, and I cleaned up the last bit of dishes (most had been done throughout the day by guests mostly). And that was my Christmas. I might add that I wore a short-sleeve blouse and shorts the whole day!