Christmas in the Filipinno home

CEBU, Philippines - In many Filipino homes, Christmas is the biggest highlight of the year. It is a time when family members - wherever they may be in the country or the world - would come and gather together.  The occasion, often lasting for several days to weeks, is marked with cheerful conversations among dear family, relatives and friends catching up with one another.

The ones already home at the onset of the Christmas season, which is around the middle of September, would start decorating. A Christmas tree would be found in some homes; an eye-catching 'parol' in others. The more affluent residences would have both and more.

Starting right after All Souls' Day in November, homes would already be ready with coins or sweet treats to give to the kids caroling around the neighborhood. In the countryside, the favorite treats given to young carolers are coconut candies or homemade delicacies like 'biko' or 'budbud'. Boiled 'kamote' or ripe bananas are also common giveaways.

In urban centers, caroling is now limited to the inner cities, where carolers are often given money. Also, carolers in twos or threes hound public utility jeepneys, to the big dismay of most passengers. With street carolers, one is almost 'coerced' to give, and, thus, one is not happy to part with even a single peso.

To a good degree, Christmas remains a home event everywhere. While there is so much merry noise outside, Christmas in the Filipino home is characterized by warm affection among family members. With Christmas and New Year taking place a mere week apart, Christmas is an opportune time for patching up whatever differences might have occured during the year and so the family can start the coming year with a clean slate.

The family get-togethers at Christmas would often include several generations. Grandparents are there to connect with the kids. The old folks are supposed to give the young ones advices and presents; the young ones, in turn, are expected to give their elders their respect and gratitude. And so Christmas is a time for reaffirming cherished family values.

Closer to Christmas, children's eyes light up as they find their names on the gifts at the foot of the Christmas tree. Their great joy prompts the little ones to wrap their arms around mom and dad, 'ninong' and 'ninang', and 'tito' and 'tita'. The sight of the kids' jubilation is enough to make any grownup forget about everyday worries.

At the approach of the nine-day dawn Masses or "Misa de Gallo," the older women in the family would now be planning of delicacies to serve family members coming home from attending the early Mass. Lola, Mama and Tita would try to outdo one another with their best recipes.

The affectionate competition among the master cooks in the family eventually becomes a collaboration for the Christmas feast.  Each woman would take care of certain dishes - mostly heirloom recipes - for the big meal. It's usually during the preparation of the Christmas dinner that young girls in the family get their first cooking lessons from their elders.

Some families celebrate Christmas by going out - having a good time at the mall, even enjoying dinner at a good restaurant. But all these are just extraneous activities. The better celebration is still at home. 

Overall, Christmas in the Filipino home goes way beyond loving relationship. It is also a religious and a cultural celebration. And it is one big reason to be hopeful about another whole year - to experience once again the shared joy and warmth the next time Christmas comes around. (FREEMAN)