Photo from Pixabay
As August comes to a close and September approaches, we ready our ears in anticipation of Jose Mari Chan’s Filipino classic Christmas carol, Christmas in Our Hearts, that begins with that all-too familiar line, “Whenever I see girls and boys selling lanterns on the street…” It may still be months before Christmas, but here in the Philippines, we start the countdown anyway. For us, the Christmas season has begun!
What we Pinoys affectionately call the “-ber” months from September until December is a season that is most anticipated. The air starts to have a slight chill in the mornings and evenings and malls start displaying their Christmas wares, moms start being on the lookout for Christmas décor and gift ideas, and kids are all too eager planning for Monito Monita themes.
As the only predominantly Christian nation in Asia, we have made it a uniquely Pinoy thing to have the longest Christmas celebration. But what do the “-ber” months really mean to Filipino families?
It means a lot of celebrating together is about to happen. Filipino culture loves togetherness with our extended family – whether with relatives, friends, classmates, officemates, churchmates, or the whole barangay! We like celebrating together in all of our gatherings—fiestas, birthdays, weddings, Christenings, graduation celebrations, and of course, Christmas. There’s no stopping the entire family and the whole barkada from gathering to celebrating a milestone in someone’s life; any reason whatsoever, actually. What more the birth of Jesus. So, as we enter the -ber months, the mood becomes subtly more festive, and it gets louder, more colorful, and more apparent as we reach year-end festivities.
It is also gearing our hearts for bonding and healing in the family. Around this time, many family activities are meant to harness and keep the family bond tight. We shop together to buy gifts for family, friends, inaanaks, and other important people in our lives, teach kids the top-secret recipes of their favorite dishes, and spend time practicing Christmas songs for some neighborhood caroling. It is the season that we share and give thanks.
But it is also a season for forgiving and healing. No matter how many difficulties, obstacles, even conflicts the Filipino family has faced throughout the year, we work things out by the grace of God. “Christmas brings the dysfunctional family under one roof for some adobo,” says our lolos and lolas. Christmas and family are two very important aspects of our culture, hence we strive to always keep them together. That’s why during this time, we get ready to forgive and ask forgiveness. “Pasko naman,” our elders nudge us (or vice versa!).
At the core of it all, it’s the birth of Christ that motivate us to come together and celebrate. When Jesus was born, his earthly family – Mary and Joseph – as well as the shepherds and the wise men, were there to celebrate. God has given us a reason to celebrate: a Savior for us. In the same way, we want our entire family to be present with us when we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ. His coming, meant to bring joy and healing in the relationship between God and man, also inspires healing in our relationships with one another. Coming together during the festivities makes us rejoice in our family and the love we have for each other, no matter what circumstances we face. As Bong Baylon says in his article, “What’s in a Name,”: “… at the core of this experience is the purpose behind the celebration.” Jesus is the reason for the season.
We celebrate early because there’s much celebration to be done, much to be prepared— but also many relationships to be reconciled, to be built, and to be strengthened.
Almira Manduriao does content marketing by profession, works with nonprofits and social enterprises to strengthen their cause, and advocates for the protection of women & children in the country. She travels to collect local paintings, eat whatever’s on the menu, and get lost in crowded train stations.
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing some research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! “It is impossible to underrate human intelligence–beginning with one’s own.” by Henry Adams.
Wow, great article post.Much thanks again. Keep writing.