"LET THE SPIRIT OF LOVE GENTLY FILL YOUR HEARTS AND HOMES. IN THIS LOVELIEST OF SEASONS MAY YOU FIND MANY REASONS FOR HAPPINESS".
The Philippines is known as the "Land of Fiestas," and at Christmas time, this is especially true. Filipinos are proud to proclaim their Christmas celebration to be the longest and merriest in the world. It begins formally on December 16 with attendance at the first of nine pre-dawn or early morning masses and continues on nonstop until the first Sunday of January, Feast of the Three Kings, the official end of the season. The Philippines is the only Asian country where Christians predominate. Majority of its people are Roman Catholic. Christmas, therefore, is an extremely important and revered holiday for most Filipinos. It is a time for family, for sharing, for giving, and a time for food, fun, and friendship. The 25th of December is Christmas Day! It's the "most wonderful time of the year," as singer Andy Williams put it, and it's one of the most anticipated times of the year for Christians and Catholics alike. It is without a doubt one of the most sacred religious holidays, as well as a global cultural phenomenon, especially among Catholics and Christians. Christmas began as a Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus, but it evolved into a secular family holiday celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike in the early twentieth century. The mythical figure Santa Claus plays a pivotal role in the secular holiday, which is often devoid of Christian elements. This is probably one of the few times in modern history when we are encouraged to celebrate Christmas in its purest form, in its simplest form.
Covid-19 may have caused havoc in the countries where it struck, but it failed to dampen the Christmas spirit in the Philippines, where the holiday season begins in September. Filipinos will find a way to celebrate the holiday season and express their love to family and friends through gifts while the country is quarantined. Despite the quarantine restrictions aimed at stopping Covid-19, families will gather around the dinner table to enjoy traditional holiday fare. Covid, on the other hand, should not put a damper on our Christmas celebrations! Let us spread more hope, peace, joy, and love this season! It is believed to be the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, which has been commemorated and celebrated around the world for the past two millennia. People from all walks of life have been celebrating it around the world with their own Christmas traditions and practices. This year's Christmas celebration, as well as the entire holiday season, will, without a doubt, be unlike any other. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has put the holiday season under more strain than anticipated. Certainly, the coronavirus pandemic affected almost no one, no occasion, including Christmas and the holiday season, and no countries, including the Philippines, which is known for its Christmas feasts.
Christmas is celebrated in the Philippines, as it is in every other Catholic and Christian country in the world, but for a much longer period of time. For Filipinos, Christmas is one of the most important holidays. Filipinos enjoy spending time with their families, relatives, and friends during the holiday season. It's that time of year when Filipino families get together and do things together, usually with a lot of vigor, merriment, and festivities. Also, Filipinos have their own set of iconic Christmas traditions and practices that includes: (1) setting up the “belen”, which is a common nativity scene everywhere in the Philippines and in almost all Filipino households; (2) hanging of “parol,” a Christmas ornament unique to the Philippines on streets, outside the house, in malls, in offices and almost everywhere; (3) attending “simbang gabi (night mass)”; (4) indulging and enjoying two of the most popular and most loved Christmas food treats, “bibingka” and “puto bumbong” (both are variations of rice cakes) after the “simbang gabi”; (5) house to house carolling that starts from the second week of December which both kids and adults enjoy the most; (6) attending the Misa de Gallo (Christmas Eve Mass); (7) then the ultimate Christmas celebration of “Noche Buena” or the so-called “midnight feast,” which for Filipinos is a huge lavish, open house feast and a celebration with family, friends and neighbours, greeting everyone a Merry Christmas, with lots of special food and delicacies to enjoy; (😎 then the gift giving or exchange of gifts as a way of celebrating the season of giving where everyone is just happy to receive and give gifts; and (9) last but not the least is the giving of “pamasko” (wrapped gifts or money) by godparents to their godchildren, which is something children look forward to all season long.
It's the time of year to be... safe... and serenity... and considerate Christmas 2020, as we all know, will be very different from previous years. All events and gatherings have been canceled until at least January 8th in order to keep as many of us safe as possible from COVID. For those of us who live with others, this includes any size gatherings at our homes, even in our backyards or outside, with anyone other than our "core bubble," defined as our immediate household. ).COVID spreads in groups, and we're particularly vulnerable during the holidays, when we're tempted to leave our core bubbles to visit others. However, we must resist this temptation and remain safe at home this holiday season.
Even though this holiday season will be unique – and difficult for many – we can rest assured that the sacrifices we make now will protect us, our loved ones, and our communities in the future. The goal for next year is to have everyone present to celebrate in person. It's critical that we stay informed about the most recent public health orders and recommendations, and that we follow them. Without being able to gather in person, we'll have to get creative in order to celebrate and enjoy the holiday season. Christmas celebrations in the Philippines are, however, different this year than in previous years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some of the wonderful Christmas traditions and practices have been jeopardized, if not all of them. Traditional gatherings with family, friends, and neighbours, for example, have been discouraged and shifted online to some extent because they are deemed unsafe and risky because they may facilitate the spread of the coronavirus. Because the number of people who can attend "simbang gabi" is limited, masses have been celebrated online or streamed via various social media platforms so that Filipinos can still attend mass in the privacy of their own homes.
Carolling, shopping extravaganzas, and parties are also prohibited and discouraged, with night-time curfews enacted as one method of ensuring that people do not roam the streets but rather stay in their homes to limit the spread of the deadly virus, even during the holiday season. Filipino Christmas celebrations have become more low-key, modest, and minimalist as a result. The economic impact of the coronavirus, as well as the impact of subsequent natural calamities/disasters that have befallen the country, has left many Filipinos unemployed, financially challenged, or broke.
As a result, all of these factors are the reason why Filipinos will not be able to celebrate Christmas as they used to this year, in one way or another. The pandemic of COVID-19 has been depressing. Despite the Philippines' desolate and difficult situation, Filipinos are determined to have a meaningful and enjoyable holiday season. Despite the limitations and restrictions, they celebrated Christmas with joy and happiness in their hearts, hoping for a brighter and sunnier year in 2021 than in 2020.
The majority of Filipinos will not allow the pandemic to ruin the most important season of the year. Filipinos will always find a way to have fun and enjoy the holiday season with friends and family, regardless of quarantine restrictions or financial constraints, even if it means doing so online. They'll find a way to make the most of a bad situation. They will find time to laugh with friends and family, even in the face of adversity. One of the coping mechanisms that makes Filipinos strong, buoyant, resilient, and upbeat is their use of humor. Indeed, despite the pandemic and the various challenges it has posed to the Philippines and the rest of the world, most notably in terms of how Christmas celebrations and festivities have been altered and, to some extent, restricted, the essence of Christmas has remained the same. Even in the midst of a pandemic, Christmas is about giving, loving, and renewing hope for a better future. Even now, during the pandemic, it still means charity and goodwill toward all humanity, especially those who are less fortunate.
The best and most practical gift Filipinos can give themselves, their loved ones, and friends to protect themselves from the deadly coronavirus is the perseverance and discipline to follow the government's minimum health standards, which include social distancing, wearing face masks, washing hands, staying at home, and avoiding crowded places. Indeed, in this time of pandemic, the most meaningful Christmas gift that anyone can give to everyone is to take care of our own, our loved ones', and our friends' health and well-being.
And it's at this point that I'm reminded of our Savior's birth. The Christmas story is simple to follow. A mother and a father gave birth to our Lord and Saviour in a manger. A shepherd, a few animals, and the three magi were among his visitors. It's a touching reminder of the season's true meaning. This year has been difficult for all of us, but we are optimistic. God is with us, has always been with us, and will always be with us, even in the midst of the pandemic's confusion and fear.
Jesus is the light of the world!
May we always remember the baby Jesus, may our lives reflect Christ's presence, and may our homes exude God's peace. If we have a lot of faith, hope, and love, we will all be able to get through this crisis together.
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