What is Christmas to me?
IT'S THE SMALL THINGS
Christmas, and its meaning, and significance in my life has most definitely evolved as the years have gone by. As a child, it simply meant Santa, and the countless gifts and presents. We then realize that it is a celebration so deeply rooted in our Christian faith, and as we get older, we try to embody as much of this faith into our practices and celebrations during the season. And though the holidays can definitely be stressful, the whiff of Christmas in the air is still somehow uplifting, with the cheer and spirit putting everyone in a good and festive mood. If there is one thing that has remained through the years, it is that Christmas is most definitely the most wonderful time of the year.
And perhaps this is the reason why we Filipinos start in September – to prolong the merriment and all the good that comes out of it. But if there is another constant in what Christmas means to me, Christmas to me has been, and will always be synonymous with family. As a child, and when my grandparents were still around, it was definitely a most hectic, but most anticipated two days. Whether in the Philippines or elsewhere, Christmas has always been spent with family, and I cannot think of it any other way. It is the same reason why a lot of us who find ourselves abroad save our leaves and funds to go home for the holidays. Truly, there is no Christmas like Christmas at home. And home, will always be where the heart is.
Christmas to me has also been about giving and making people happy. Or maybe, it is more about my lousy excuse and love for gift wrap and ribbons, and finding the perfect reason to use and abuse my collection to gift friends and family. I find joy in tying bows, wrapping gifts and writing Christmas cards amidst Christmas carols playing in the background, and perhaps a Christmas scented candle lit up to complete the holiday ambiance. There is just something so indescribably joyful about this time of year.
And no matter where, and with who, Christmas is also about making the merriest memories. Year after year, we uphold and practice tradition because it is after all, part of what we look forward to. But year after year, some things will change, and there will always be memories that stand out – these memories warm enough to fill our hearts and tide us through to the next year.
The past two Christmases (at least for me) have been rather different – one, because of the pandemic, and second, because of where we celebrated, and where my life has found me. But that being said, what remained constant was who it was celebrated with, the memories made, and the love that surrounded us despite all the uncertainties that was happening in the world. And now that the world has mostly returned back to normal, may we continue to carry in our hearts the importance of surrounding ourselves with those who matter most. May we never forget the essence of what Christmas truly means, and may we find it in ourselves to be the reason why someone (or people) smile more brightly this holiday season.