An Update on Christmas Decorations

Market Market's lights

I thought that perhaps it was time to add an update on Christmas decorations, so you could get a sense of how over the top things get. It has taken me a while to get this together, so this is an idea of where things were in mid-November. Towards the start of the month I noticed that the red star and green Christmas tree had reappeared on the stop lights in my area of town, making me smile as I wait to cross the street.

SM Aura's sea themed decorations

The malls have gone all out. The one closest to me choosing an underwater theme this year, which I suppose is appropriate for the Philippines. I must admit their decorations are beautiful, even if they don't exactly evoke a Christmas feeling to me. I was a bit confused when I waited in line the other day to enter the display only to find a wrap around screen showing basically an aquarium tunnel. No Santa's snorkeling, no reindeer or snow. Not at all what I expected after last year. 

Powerplant mall is decked out

Of course other malls have gone the traditional route. With hanging lights and green trees. In fact Powerplant Mall was so decked out I found it a bit overwhelming. Green garland decked hallways, a huge tree....and then African Saharan animals with scarfs. Ummm...okay. The penguins on the other side of the lobby made a bit more sense to me. Until you start to think that no part of the Philippines gets cold enough for those birds. Sometimes you just have to suspend your sense of reality and enjoy the festive holiday spirit for what it is.

 

I guess I shouldn't be too surprised at the over the top decorations this year. After all I saw them last year. When we ventured out to a local market recently it was just stall after stall of Christmas, more Santas then I had ever seen together before. It does just make me wonder where do all the decorations go the other 8 months a year? I do need to get myself out after dark to a couple of places that will begin sound and light shows with the start of December, giving me the opportunity to realize that it does continue to ramp up as we get closer to the holiday.

  

Street market full of Christmas

Welcome to the ber months

Welcome to the ber months. That is what they call them. As in September, October, November, and December. In other words, Christmas has come to the Philippines. What, you think it is too early? There is no such thing. Signposted countdowns began with 99 days until Christmas (my personal theory is that they only wanted to do 2 digits, otherwise it probably would have started earlier).

Trees are going up in stores and malls around town

I will admit that September really only brought out the Christmas music...just about everywhere. I've been grading in coffee shops to carols for the last month now. As soon as you enter the mall you're sure to hear the recognizable tunes. September also brought out Christmas decoration sales at many stores, after all, they have to help people get ready for the ber months too. However, once the first of October rolled around the Christmas decorating stepped up a notch. Each time I walk around town I notice a bit more going up. Slowly large trees are being set up and decorated. The lights are going up on the streets. Malls are starting their decorations. Even with that though, I know it will only continue to ramp up as we get closer to Christmas. After all the two story decorations in the mall aren't up yet, the street lights haven't turned into trees and stars yet, and there aren't huge red decorations on the grassy areas of the neighborhood yet. But it is just a matter of time. Welcome to the ber months in the Philippines, Christmas is almost here.

Outdoor decorations are going up this month

Christmas traditions

As I got ready to head home for Christmas this year my mom and my sister were full of questions about what needed to/could happen for the holiday. It really made me sit down and think about what were important traditions for me to experience if I was going to  feel like I had had a true Christmas. There are many things that I don't feel strongly about, after all three years ago I spend two hours in an internet cafe in Kampot, Cambodia skyping with my family and then went out for a peppercorn crab meal on the banks of the river by myself. So what is it that makes a Christmas at home Christmas? It is mass on Christmas Eve (turns out I don't care about which church since the priest I grew up with has been moved). Driving through Leisurewoods to enjoy the Christmas lights and the luminaries. Christmas Eve at my mom's house - opening presents and snacking on tamales, cheese, fresh rolls and fruit. Spending time with family. The lights on a Christmas tree. A nice family meal on Christmas Day with plenty of veggies (also turns out I don't have strong feelings about the main dish - lasagna this year). If possible going to visit the Zilker tree and trail of lights. Crisp weather many of you would think of as fall (but no snow!). Home made Christmas cookies. My mother's pumpkin bread (do I need to point out we have a lot of food traditions in our family?). Throwing sparkly puffs at my mother that turn into a fake snowball fight until we are both laughing too hard on the floor to continue. Seeing the wonder in my nieces' eyes at the magic of Christmas. All with a low refrain of religious Christmas carols in the background. 

Christmas in Italy

Stained glass window on the walls of the duomo in Siracusa

How do you sum up three weeks of travel around a country that included 8 cities? After spending two days sorting through pictures I'm not at all sure I'm up to writing anything extensive; so I thought I'd share some of my highlights from our time in Italy.

• The brightly colored houses on the island of Burano outside of Venice
• Riding the funicular part of the way up the mountain around Trento to Sardagna and the spectacular view of the Dolomites from that vantage point
• Some of the unusual nativity scenes scattered around Assisi
• Discovering my favorite church window in Italy is still the rose window of San Rufino in Assisi...from the outside
• The bridge of angels leading across the river to Castel San'Angelo in the Vatican
• The pure cheesiness of visiting Juliet's house and tomb in Verona
• The absolutely spectacular golden mosaic behind the altar in the Church of Maria in Trastevere, Rome
• Relaxing among the historical building and sea front on Ortygia Island in Siracusa, Sicily
• Even more cheesiness at the Boca della Verita  on the wall of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome where legend has it that if you tell a lie with your hand in its mouth it will bite your hand off
• Hearing the church bells ring through the clear clean air
• Watching mom enjoy gelato almost every afternoon
• The overwhelming size of the Colosseum sandwiched in the middle of Rome
• Not having to spend Christmas alone this year and having my mom for company

Mom and I in the Arena in Verona