December 1.
The humid air is starting to fill the early morning temperature giving me some chills while I am watching a show on TV with windows and doors opened in the wee hours of the morning. I am nocturnal thus these things are pretty normal to me. Despite of the coldness of the wind that passes through the windows and doors, I am laying down on the floor with my head on the pillow wearing only shorts. At least thats how i define comfy when I am at home.
One thing for sure, when this feel of cold air wraps my body, one season is coming knocking at my door, Christmas.
This is the first day of the month where everybody is excited and rushing for things before the day comes. Christmas list are prepared and double-checked. For some others, they are starting to hang those blinking christmas lights and put on some spirit of Christmas in their homes. People are preparing for vaction leaves as well for the big day to be with their family. On this day starts the count down for one Christian holiday celebrated once a year, the Christmas Day.
"Oh come all Ye faithful. Joyful and triumphant..(and the songs goes)"
This day might commence as well for some children to knock on your door singing those traditional Christmas songs and in exchange, the family who were presented with the song should give in some sort of prize and for some others, as we call here in the Philippines, would say "Patawad" and then goes the children mumbling those words "kuripot". Thats one tradition we as Filipinos are fond of, singing christmas carol in every houses every night to ask for some christmas presents in a form of monetary unit. Well, its still one great tradition though.
Fifteen (15) days from now, one Filipino tradition will commence as well. This has been one Filipino tradition before Christmas day comes. We call it "Simbang Gabi" (Mass at Dawn) where every Filipino wake up early in the morning or before the rooster turn on some "cuck-a-doodle-doo's" to go to church, attend the mass and pray. This mass culminates on the dawn of the 25th of December after 9 mornings of attending this mass. Belief says that if you completed the 9 mornings of attending the "Simbang Gabi", it comes out with a wish and that wish will be granted.
Whats exciting as well on this tradition is the after mass activities for friends and families. I am not talking though about activities that will be sweat-sprouting but the traditional early morning breakfast of the native delicacies. For us Filipinos, "Simbang Gabi" is always partnered with puto-bumbong, chocolate drink (tsokolate), ginger ale (salabat), bibingka (rice cake) and a lot more of our native delicacies who find its way more tempting during this season.
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| mga pagkaing pinoy tuwing pasko |
Christmas is one big holiday for every Filipinos. This is the time of the year were family ties plays one great role in celebrating this festive season. It is during this time when one mom separated from her family to work abroad will find time to see them again for a reunion and vacation. For freinds for a get together party. For feuds to be ended with forgiving and forgetting. And, this is the time when everybody is celebrating His birthday.
To be continued.....
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