December just went like a blur. The weeks have passed so quickly that I can’t imagine tonight is actually Christmas eve!
It has been a very busy month starting from the celebration of Sinterklaas, having guests over from the UK, weekend commutes to Amsterdam and basically rushing to send the Christmas cards and completing our Christmas shopping. The project I am currently working on also takes a lot of my time and energy, and in between I still have to attend to my driving and Dutch lessons.
Despite the Christmas rush and being tired, I take great joy in all the preparation works and celebration that comes with the Christmas season. I enjoy the moment when my husband brings the fresh christmas tree and with us trimming the tree together. Despite having a fairly odd shaped christmas tree this year, I still find it beautiful with the lights, colours and the decors!
However, what makes my Christmas season this year seem to be more “Christmasy” is the weekly feasts that I have been attending. This almost reminded me of my Pinoy Christmases, where every week during the month of December, there seemed to be Christmas parties everywhere or endless gathering with friends, relatives and colleagues. However the big difference now is that I am not feasting on the all time favourite Christmas party food of lechon, hamon, embotido, sisig, etc., but I get to try a a sampling of different cuisines as my hosts were either from Iran, Mexico, Georgia, and Morocco. I particularly enjoy the company of friends and despite our different backgrounds and culture, we still share a lot of things in common.
For tonight, my husband and I decided to celebrate Christmas eve with just the two of us, and perhaps attend the Christmas eve mass at the magnificent Sint Jan Cathedral. I want to have some time for us to be together alone, as the next couple of days will be busy again with family gatherings and hosting some guests from the U.S. who are visiting for the holidays.
My husband and I will spend Christmas day and the next few days at my mother-in-law’s place. Although the Dutch don’t normally celebrate Christmas by giving gifts on Christmas day, my Dutch family has adapted to the American/English way of doing things. For one, my brother-in-law and his family, are very much British in their tradition such that their 2 year old kid doesn’t even have a clue who Sinterklaas is, but looks forward to receive a gift from Father Christmas. I know that my MIL is still clueless about this gift giving tradition, but through the years, she has been getting the hang of it. My other brother-in-law and his family (who are very much Dutch in their tradition and ways) have decided to join in as well. Being used to the Dutch way of doing things, they have given us their Christmas list, which I think makes shopping relatively easier and practical. Afterall it takes too much time and energy to even think what appropriate gifts can you give to someone. My husband and I on the other hand have always celebrated Christmas by giving each other a surprise. For the Christmas meal, we decided that each family will do his share of preparing the meal, and such my husband (and his assistant…that is me…) will be in charge of the main course.
During this time of the year my mind is always in two different worlds—the Philippines and the current place which I consider home. I will surely miss my family and friends this Christmas, and I am very much aware that during this time my family, especially my mom, is still very much affected by the fact that I am the only one away from home, when it is supposed to be a celebration with the whole family. I still get emotional during Christmas when talking to my family despite being away for several years, but on the other hand I take comfort knowing that I will be celebrating this special day with my Dutch family. For Christmas 2006 however, I very much look forward to celebrate the traditional Pinoy Christmas.
To everyone, i wish you a very happy christmas and may the new year bring good cheers, good health and whatever you wish for! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
