A Short Essay on Christmas

Its the time of the year when the cold winds sweep over Manila, markets are filled with mothers with helpers, buying what they can for their sumptuous Christmas feast, houses decorated with lanterns and lights, mall glittering with ornaments and littered with busy shoppers trying to find the counter that has the shortest queue.

As I was walking the down Cubao one day after work, I can't help but notice the people in their busy yet happy and light stupor, doing what they can to make their season worth remembering.

Some make the most of the season: drink, go out, party and shop. On the other hand, some continue on with their normal lives, unaware of the joys of the season thinking that it is just another day.

But what does Christmas mean?

Then I remembered those days in my childhood, where Christmas is such a joyous and magnificent season. We would do this routine every time its Christmas. We as a family would decorate the house with the little that we have. A short plastic Christmas tree, a wreath, an old Nativity scene set. I would even make a poster! One week before the event, my Dad would buy these boxes of apples and oranges in Divisoria. Then we put up socks near the tree and place the gifts Mom wrapped for everyone. We would go caroling in the neighborhood with our cousins and friends and share the little amount we get, since we go out as large group(fifteen!). The largest, I remembered we got is 20 pesos each. We would go to the marketplace, the houses of our friends and wherever we can go around he area! Then Christmas Eve, me and siblings would find it hard trying to sleep since the excitement keeps you awake. I think I remembered one of us cried because he or she can't go to sleep! But eventually we slept, and awakened by our parents for the gift opening! And the real fun begins next day, Christmas Day. All our relatives from both sides of the family will come visit us at our home then we hand them out their gifts and aguinaldo. The apples and oranges we bought earlier the week were handed down to them as well. Each kid and each adult were given one.

Sharing is one thing I learned from our family tradition.

Then after a couple of years, from receiving gifts, you're the one whose giving.
This year I've bought a little something for my family. A shirt and tie set for my brothers, a perfume for my sister and a bank account for our bunso. I'll treat my parents for a spa treatment and our "ates" in house, I handed a few hundred bucks.
It's not much compared to those expensive gifts others give but, I say, the value of sharing is still one gift a person can give to another.

God himself gave his own Son to us for our redemption!