Some of my best childhood memories were made during Christmas when I
was a little girl in Manila. At Sundown on Christmas eve, I would put on
newly bought clothes, then our whole family would make our way to
Fiesta Carnival, before heading to my maternal grandparent's home for an
evening of festivities. There, I would see my cousins, exchange gifts,
eat noche buena before heading to the local church for midnight mass.
After mass we would head home with our car loaded full of presents, then
I would run very quickly to see what Santa had stuffed inside the Sock
(did not have Stockings then!)that I had taped to my door! On Christmas
day, we would once again go to mass, head to my paternal grandparent's
home for another feast, exchange gifts, then head out and drive to my
parent's relatives' homes so that we could make "pamasko".
When we
moved to Sydney, tradition changed a wee bit. We would still go to
midnight mass in our new outfits, then head home and eat our noche buena
and exchange presents. However Christmas Day equated to the family
going to the beach.
When I left Sydney about 10 years ago to
"spread my wings", little did I realise that I was going to lose the
tradition that I had learned to attach with Christmas.
Christmas
2001 was my first Christmas ever without the family and not being in
Manila. I found myself in New Jersey with some wonderful friends who did
not hesitate to adopt me. I joined their family celebrations and their
traditions. They opened their home and hearts to me. I am forever
grateful.
Christmas 2002 was a busy one! I drove up with my cousin
and her family to New York (thank you insan!) to spend Christmas eve
with relatives. They gave me a Christmas before I headed out to London
to spend the rest of the Holiday Season with my brother.
Christmas
2003 was spent in San Francisco. My cousin and I met my brother in SFO
to spend the Holidays with my Aunt her family. Tradition was very far
from me when I found myself sleeping in the airport whilst on transit
since I missed my flight due to delays.
Christmas 2004 was my
first Christmas in town. I will forever remember that Christmas since it
was the first time I went to Christmas eve mass on my own. I think that
was the first time I realised how far away I was from my family.
Last
Christmas, I flew to Toronto. I needed to be with a friend during the
Holidays.I did not need the tradition of the Season but instead I needed
someone to see me through. It was a perfect Christmas.
Christmas
2006 - one I was definitely dreading. Obviously I have replaced being
with family, having noche buena and seeing what Santa might have brought
along with the tradition of escaping during Christmas.
This year, I knew I could not keep my yearly tradition. I was stuck!
Either
way, not having the tradition with my family nor the tradition of
escaping did not deter from Christmas working its magic this year.
Christmas
eve was spent having lunch with a girlfriend and her baby boy at IHOP
(yupl IHOP!) That was a beautiful gift from God. Sharing, talking and
just being with them continued to attest how truly amazing God and His
work is.
I managed to have Noche buena with a friend whose family
continuously adopts me, before heading off to midnite mass to meet my
cousin and her friend.
Tradition was certainly different this
year, but nonetheless Christ's presence was still there.. being with
friends, making it to midnite mass, getting parking, getting seats,
getting home in one piece, being able to speak with my family in Sydney
before heading to sleep...
I wonder what is in store for Christmas 2007???
I think that it might be time to start a new tradition.....
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