I grew up in a big family. We lived in my grandparents house. It was complicated but there were times that it was fun. I grew up learning that Christmas should be celebrated with the family. My aunts and uncles who lives somewhere else always make it a point to be there and eat noche buena together.
Here in our country, Christmas starts as early as September. When the ber months entered, radio stations beat each other in welcoming the yuletide season by playing a Christmas carol as the clock strikes 12. In most bargain stores and department stores, Christmas merchandises are starting to fill their racks. As December approaches, families start to decorate their house and start making plan on what’s the menu on Noche Buena.
December 16 is one the most awaited date during this season. This is the start of Simbang Gabi or Nine Mornings. From this day until Christmas, a mass is held everyday. In some church they have it on dawn and in some, they have it at night. In our place, it was held at dawn. This is one of my favorite Christmas tradition. I love dawn.. as simple as that.
December 24, every house hold are busy preparing their noche buena. Noche Buena is a traditional meal (which would never be complete without the ham and the cheese) to greet Christmas day. A feast that is celebrated after the mass on the eve of 25. Gift giving will soon follow this sumptuous meal.
December 25 and it is Christmas. Traditionally, kids would visit their godparents house and greet them a Merry Christmas and in return godparents give aguinaldo to them. Aguinaldo means gift (a Spanish term). Now, I am not quite sure if this tradition is still practiced.
Another tradition that I really like and we still practice is the hanging of socks, hoping that Santa would put something on it (although we don’t have a chimney, the stairs served as our hanging place). Of course, Santa is not real but it was really fun waking up on Christmas eve and discovering your socks full of goodies!
How about you? What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
