Monday, October 13, 2008

My Early Christmas 2008!

We Filipinos, we celebrate our Christmas very early. And when we said early, we mean early. I remember when i was just a boy, i used to set up our (plastic) Christmas Tree* early in September, 3 months ahead of Christmas. Funny huh? I don't know but for me, whenever i hear that "ber" in those last 4 months of the year and smell that cool breeze of the morning, it feels so much like Christmas, even if "El Dia de todos los Santos" (The all Saints day in November 1) and "El dia de los Muertos" (The day of the Dead in November 2) plus the un official celebration of "Halloween" in October 31 are all yet to come.

Yesterday i have just set up my Christmas Tree. It's not your usual Christmas Tree, it's not even made of plastic, it's like made of coiled vine, shaped into a giant cone and sprayed with silver paint. It was actually from one of our shops which we used as window decoration for this year's Ramadan. Setting up my Christmas Tree early really gives me that Christmas spirit, especially here in Saudi Arabia where they don't celebrate Christmas, (obviously). Looking at my Christmas Tree now gives me the feeling of comfort, joy and even loneliness, all at the same time. Come to think of it, it's just wire, sticks and a bunch of pretty little bulbs with different colors, but it can really stir up your emotions.
"OH CHRISTMAS TREE"
"Oh Christmas tree, oh christmas tree, of all the trees most lovely Each year you bring to me delight, meaning in the christmas night Oh Christmas tree, oh christmas tree, of all the trees most lovely"

MY HUMBLE LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE

*Christmas Trees in the Philippines are usually made of synthetic materials like plastic, instead of real fresh pine tree, the one they are using in Europe and North America.