The Christmas season starts very early here in the Philippines. Vendors put up bargain toy and clothing stands in September and the Christmas shopping begins, especially godparents (ninong and ninang) with loads of godchildren (inaanak). After All Souls Day (November 2), Filipinos take out the decorations from their boxes and soon, houses are decked for the long celebration.

 

Every Saturday, malls and markets are crowded, like people were in hiding for almost a year and just decided to come out, resulting to the heavy traffic. It's a family event. Mothers are buying all these ingredients for the Noche Buena while the rest are shopping for gifts. Christmas parties start as early as the first week (December five last year and the eighth this year, for me) and there is at least one every week. We Filipinos really like Christmas.

 

Every 24th, thirty minutes before midnight, my family gathers around the dining table. Dad opens his Bible and delivers a message. At twelve o'clock, we greet each other "Merry Christmas" and Dad leads us in prayer. After that, mom starts serving the food :3 Sometimes we have a theme, sometimes we don't. But there must always be chicken empanada for Keeper and nachos for her sister. It's our tradition. I don't know the rationale behind hers but for me, chicken empanada is a special food I eat every Christmas. I never eat chicken empanada throughout the whole year and reserve it for His birthday. Haha! It's like seaweed soup for South Koreans... but more delicious ;) Then, we open our gifts laid underneath our Christmas tree, which is different every year because mom likes it that way.

 

But there is one thing I dislike about this season and it's the Christmas exchange gift event in Christmas parties. See... I consider it a game, with rules - minimum prices of gifts are given. Equivalent exchange. But I feel cheated every year. If not a towel, I receive a mug that was on sale. I loathed those two items with a vengeance to the point that I no longer wanted to attend a party. 

 

I thought I'd be able to graduate from such gifts, but I was wrong... until my mom told me to let go. For as long as I'm hung up with negative feelings and not able to accept the gifts wholeheartedly, I'd continue to receive mugs and towels. 

 

"Like a curse?!" I spluttered in disbelief and realization dawned on me. I am reminded why I even receive gifts, why people even give gifts...

 

Isaiah 9:6 says,  "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given..."

 

For me and my family, Christmas is not just a week-long holiday. It is not just a celebration. Christmas is Jesus' birthday. And unlike other birthdays, the Celebrant is the gift and we are the ones who receive the gift. We give because we have first received... the perfect gift. I have already received my gift when Christ was born. Freedom. He ransomed me from Satan and broke the chains of 'death'. He gave me eternal life.

 

That said, I am now grateful for every gift I received - towel or mug. See, like the babe in manger, great gifts may come in small packages ;)

 

Merry Christmas everyone :D