In the Philippines, Christmas mood starts to percolate as soon as September hits. By October and November, most homes are fully decked with Christmas lights, including the very unique Filipino parol, a Christmas star lantern traditionally made with bamboo sticks and Japanese rice paper illuminated either by bulbs or Christmas lights. When December rolls in, the Christmas celebratory feel is in full swing as the air is significantly cooler (especially in the northern mountain region of the country), the airwaves are maxed out with almost four months of Christmas music (some on repeat – oh, the agony!), and gift-giving becomes a daily ritual for some (what with the many Christmas parties on every corner, not elaborate ones but a simple bash that acknowledge the season as tradition or as what it really is).
Since I live on the other side of the world and don’t get to experience the ‘feel of Christmas’ as early and as long as it is back home, I have made a few guidelines to accommodate the two cultures in which I find myself living in:
- Christmas music any time of any year is okay.
- Setting out and decorating Christmas tree at the end of Thanksgiving day is perfectly acceptable.
- There is no hurry to take down Christmas decorations as soon as December 25 is over – leaving them out well into the 1st of February is normal.
So, to celebrate October’s coming, here’s a throwback to 2002, my first ever Christmas here in the United States. Indulge me a bit as you watch this video of fun Christmas music medley with performances that opens with a beautiful string duet, a melody of hand bells to the classic “Silver Bells” carol, a medley of voices, and a wonderful dance piece to “The Christmas Waltz.”
Adios September! Welcome October!