IT'S SNOWING AGAIN IN RENO AND IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS!
It's amazing how quickly time passes. I've been asking countless people, "Can you believe it's December?" to which I get a response of "...Yes, I can." But it can't just be me, right? Are you telling me the last time I saw my immediate family was a year ago? Are you telling me... that there is snow again ? It seems like nothing, but simultaneously, everything has happened in the capsule of a year. And once again, it's the Christmas season. Bright lights, cold, and Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You."
Although this time it's different.
Spending the holidays in a completely different country, much less cultural, is like opening a box of chocolates; You never know what you're going to get! I once spent Christmas in Japan, and it turned out that they don't go crazy there, unlike in the Philippines. My family prepares a good amount of decoration, enough to make you feel the Christmas atmosphere and have nice photos for your memory.
This year in the United States, I started feeling the holidays as soon as the week-long fall season ended and winter arrived like a wrecking ball. Yes, my downfall this year lasted a week and then the skies dumped snow storms mercilessly. What's stranger, despite having lived in the United States for a year, is that the Christmas decorations only came out after Thanksgiving !
Christmas in the Philippines
I guess one of the reasons I was surprised is how we Filipinos start preparing for Christmas around the time “ber” is in the month…yes, September. We started preparing in September. All the parols (star lanterns like the photo below!) come out of their boxes and are now the center of attention for all the goodies that will be sold. Filipino singer Jose Marie Chan and his rendition of "Christmas in Our Hearts" becomes the national anthem of every mall (we have a great mall culture). Of course, plus all the houses are already decorated with Christmas decorations... three months... before the holidays.
Our Christmas Eve begins with a Catholic holy mass at 9 pm, followed by a quiet wait until midnight, unless you are about eight years old, then Christmas Eve dinner with the family before distributing the gifts under the tree. At the feast you will find good old ham, Filipino spaghetti and barbecue, buko salad (a delicious coconut fruit salad) and, of course, rice. The morning after Christmas Eve starts quite late, most people are simply giddy with the gifts they received.
Christmas in America
As for the United States, Christmas is more low-key. More like Filipinos just exaggerate. People are reserved, and it is more solemn than festive. The image of diversity also comes into play. It's a part of American culture that I love; You can be who you are and believe in whatever you want, and you have every right to do so. That being said, not everyone goes crazy with decorations.
It is also more difficult to celebrate collectively since most people are very independent. But that means you can enjoy a nice vacation without extra “vacation work.” On the other hand, holiday gatherings are more prominent, like the potluck we'll be having, my university 's Diversity and International Students Center and Office , along with party games like White Elephant - it brings back the nostalgia of the Christmas spirit.
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