Safe and simple celebrations

The traditional nine-dawn Masses or Misa de Gallo starts tomorrow. Local governments in Cebu have already issued their respective guidelines to ensure the observance of minimum health standards in churches. In Cebu City, Mass attendees will no longer be required to bring quarantine passes. But expect the presence of police and tanods to guard against crowding.

At Fuente Osmeña, the giant Christmas Tree of Hope has been up for two weeks now. I like the minimalist design of the Fuente ‘tree’ this year, with the celebratory elements understated. Yet the mere presence of the Christmas tree is already a powerful statement about the indomitable Cebuano spirit of thanksgiving and Christmas cheers.

Despite the pandemic that has upended just about every aspect of our lives, people are still in the mood to celebrate the Christmas season. I completely understand the need to attend dawn Masses and observe the other solemn traditions of the celebration. That includes giving of gifts and cash bonuses.

At this time in previous years, invitations to Christmas parties abound. Today, there is no longer such thing as a safe Christmas party. I’ve been receiving invitations to in-person gatherings. Not to be a killjoy, I have to beg off from any such activities outside my household bubble.

The pandemic is still among us and it may be far from over. One need just look at the renewed surge of COVID-19 cases happening in Europe and the United States. In Japan, the government has decided to take a second look at its Go To Travel domestic tourism promotion campaign which has been blamed for the rising cases of COVID-19 in tourism hotspots like Osaka.

I sound like a broken record but let me say it again anyway. Let us not live in fear but let us also not let our guard down. It may be easy for me to say that. The transfer of socialization to the digital world this year had me coasting along quite fine. This month, I actually like the idea of Zoom Christmas gatherings, if only for this year. There are various apps and online activities to make one’s remote holiday party enjoyable.

But for the extroverts among my friends, pandemic fatigue is real. It’s good that I see them now on social media with their mountain bikes or swimwear outfits basking in the outdoors with other people, wearing masks and observing physical distancing (at least most of the time).

What arouses my concern are the indoor buffet parties, and they usually come with alcoholic drinks and karaoke singing. I can no longer count with my fingers the number of such private gatherings I see on social media. Unless we implement a metro-wide lockdown (which we could no longer afford to do so in a moribund economy), there’s no stopping such parties. I guess, what we can do is to appeal to people to follow minimum health standards. We also pray that the number of cases will continue to go down all the way to zero over the holidays.

Tomorrow is also my wedding anniversary with the wife. Past anniversaries had been celebrated with dinner dates in restaurants where we had to reserve a table. This year’s special occasion will be celebrated at home with a home-cooked meal.

Changes that the pandemic has brought in our way of life can be challenging but it has also brought us the joys of a simpler time. It allows us to pause and appreciate the things that matter most to us.

Have a happy and safe holidays, dear readers!