Everlasting Traditions: The Glint in the Eyes of the Youth
Everlasting Traditions: The Glint in the Eyes of the Youth
In the Philippines, Christmas is not merely a date on the calendar, it is a season said to last 4 months spanning October to January according to many locals.Known for having the longest holiday season in the world, the Filipino Christmas—or Paskong Pinoy—officially begins with the arrival of the "Ber" months in September. However, its true essence goes far beyond the early carols and the shimmering lights of the parol. At its core, the season is a profound celebration of faith, a time when the spiritual significance of the Nativity takes center stage. This is most vibrantly seen in the Simbang Gabi, a nine-day novena of dawn masses where devotees gather in the cool morning air, fueled by the hope of a blessed year and the scent of freshly steamed puto bumbong and bibingka waiting outside the church doors.
But beyond its very rooted religious traditions, I believe another spirit makes Christmas special in the Philippines - the spirit that binds families and people together in these times of uncertainty. The festive months become a magnetic draw that brings balikbayans back to our humble provinces, gathers far-off relatives in a circle for the Noche Buena and makes them share stories at night. That late-night feast goes beyond being about serving platters of spaghetti, queso de bola and lechon, because it becomes something sacred - a time to reunite and reconnect. We strengthen the bonds of our kinship by pressing a forehead to hands of elders also known as pagmamano, reaffirming reverence for heritage and the blessing passed down to a new age within each household. It is that kindling glow of "pagkakaisa," making any Filipino home warm during holiday celebrations.
In essence, what makes Christmas truly Filipino is that thread of never-ending gratitude woven against all odds. Amid hardships, we Filipinos exercise bayanihan. The holiday season finds everyone pulling together, sharing whatever small blessings there still might be with fellow neighbors and those who have not as much. Take Monito-Monita for example, with the focus put on fun over monetary worth or kids bursting forth playing makeshift tambourines while singing impromptu Christmas songs - yes, still in celebration but of offering love instead. In effect, this also spells out a message across the heartbeats of pasasalamat among us - all as a big expression of thankfulness for having made it past yet another arduous calendar year, plus a promise to hold tightly to the idea that a better future would soon dawn upon us together.
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