We are realizing a dream.
We are finally celebrating New Year's Eve on the beach!
We packed our sun cream, our sunglasses, our bathing suits, our favorite beach toys and games, our tent; but we are also brought with us our evening dresses, our perfumes, our beauty accessories, our nice pairs of shoes.
We hope to keep our tradition of at least the 12 fruits; but I think we would depend on the buffet table on that. We cannot keep the other German traditions , but as been our theme for this year, we are starting with new traditions, too.
The kids have started buying 'noisemakers' as early as the first week of December and they have been watching fireworks in almost all places where there are commercial areas; almost daily! In fact, they have almost used up our fireworks display a few days before new year's eve! What makes these fireworks display extra special is that we could watch them right in front of our bedrooms at home! Maybe that's why we've decided to go to the beach for other spectacular display :D
This is what I could tell you, the kids miss the pureness of the snow; but they revel on the warmth of the season here in Manila.
They couldnt believe they could be splashing water on the beach while waiting for the new year to come! They are indeed, enjoying realizing the dream. And I am sure this enjoyment polishes the good start of a new year to us, too!
Happy new year to all!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Happy Birthday, Jesus!
The girls have sorted all their clothes and toys since the end of November.
They unanimously agreed to give them away -- to those kids begging on the streets, to those street kids singing carols while dodging vehicles on highways, to those kids sleeping on sidewalks, to those kids selling trinkets all over.
We carted those toys and clothes, placed them inside our car and distributed them along the way. In between traffics, in between buying our staples, in between strolls, in between shopping, in between doing our erratic Christmas errands.
The kids got a different high while sharing those gifts. I know because I can see their smiles growing bigger, their extra sparkling eyes, their excitement, their glee in response to the shy grateful smiles of the recipients of their gifts.
'So, does it feel good giving? Sharing?' I asked them after one of those gift-giving sprees. They both agreed with big smiles. And they said, 'we should continue doing this even if it is not Christmas.' I guess our Christmas would be everyday :D
Merry Christmas to all!
They unanimously agreed to give them away -- to those kids begging on the streets, to those street kids singing carols while dodging vehicles on highways, to those kids sleeping on sidewalks, to those kids selling trinkets all over.
We carted those toys and clothes, placed them inside our car and distributed them along the way. In between traffics, in between buying our staples, in between strolls, in between shopping, in between doing our erratic Christmas errands.
The kids got a different high while sharing those gifts. I know because I can see their smiles growing bigger, their extra sparkling eyes, their excitement, their glee in response to the shy grateful smiles of the recipients of their gifts.
'So, does it feel good giving? Sharing?' I asked them after one of those gift-giving sprees. They both agreed with big smiles. And they said, 'we should continue doing this even if it is not Christmas.' I guess our Christmas would be everyday :D
Merry Christmas to all!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
'New' Old Christmas Traditions
Our first time to celebrate Christmas time in the Philippines.
Our chance to start new Christmas traditions while enjoying the old.
What's new for the girls?
I told the girls that when we were young, we used to gather late afternoons with some friends to go house to house and sing carols. What amount we collect, we would divide it or most of the times, we would buy sweets and share them. IC is eager to give this a go; but MC is a little doubtful. We do practice alone, though.
I told the girls when we were young, we would have the chance to buy a new set of clothes, a pair of new shoes, and a bag because thats our attire for Christmas. Both girls love the idea, but since we just bought them new clothes; we didnt push this :
I told the girls that when we were young, we would attend the early morning mass that would start on December 15 until Christmas Eve. The local band's music would be acting as our wake-up call as they march in our streets an hour before the mass would start. Both girls are sceptical about waking up early; well, I am too :D
I told the girls that the reward for attending an early morning mass would be freshly baked bibingka and puto-bumbong (varieties of rice cakes). They became a little interested!
I told the girls that when we were young, we would usually go around the neighborhood during Christmas time, kiss the hands of our elders; and we would be rewarded not with gifts but with cash. That is the reason why we needed new bags for Christmas; to collect our cash. The girls cant imagine such things happening. IC is ready to go around with her bag; but MC scoffs on the idea.
I told the girls that when we were young, we would usually open the gifts on Christmas Day. Unlike our German tradition of opening presents on the Eve of Christmas. Of course, they voted to keep the German way as they cannot wait any longer :D
I told the girls that when we were young, we have kris kringle and exchange gifts instead of advents calendars. They are willing to try this (we did and they had fun!).
I told the girls that when we were young, our Christmas Eve food would always include ham and cheese; and the much awaited spaghetti aside from the usual rice cakes. They got excited about the spaghetti.
I told the girls that when we were young, there are always people coming in and out of our house during Christmas time. The same with all the houses in the Philippines. There would be food, gift-giving, money passing around... and almost all the relatives and friends that you havent seen for years would be giving an appearance.
I told the girls that when we were young, we always greet our elders with a kiss in the hand. Well, kissing on the cheeks is widely accepted now -- but I would have loved for them to get used to this tradition, too.
I told the girls that when we were young, our parents, relatives and friends would bring us to an almost daily Christmas parties. There we would received gifts, would be fed, would be joining games and receiving prizes, and winning raffles. They are eager to join; but was asking that parties be done near our house only :D
Oh, but we have enough time to learn and enjoy these 'new' old Christmas traditions. And we are ready to start new ones, too!
Our chance to start new Christmas traditions while enjoying the old.
What's new for the girls?
I told the girls that when we were young, we used to gather late afternoons with some friends to go house to house and sing carols. What amount we collect, we would divide it or most of the times, we would buy sweets and share them. IC is eager to give this a go; but MC is a little doubtful. We do practice alone, though.
I told the girls when we were young, we would have the chance to buy a new set of clothes, a pair of new shoes, and a bag because thats our attire for Christmas. Both girls love the idea, but since we just bought them new clothes; we didnt push this :
I told the girls that when we were young, we would attend the early morning mass that would start on December 15 until Christmas Eve. The local band's music would be acting as our wake-up call as they march in our streets an hour before the mass would start. Both girls are sceptical about waking up early; well, I am too :D
I told the girls that the reward for attending an early morning mass would be freshly baked bibingka and puto-bumbong (varieties of rice cakes). They became a little interested!
I told the girls that when we were young, we would usually go around the neighborhood during Christmas time, kiss the hands of our elders; and we would be rewarded not with gifts but with cash. That is the reason why we needed new bags for Christmas; to collect our cash. The girls cant imagine such things happening. IC is ready to go around with her bag; but MC scoffs on the idea.
I told the girls that when we were young, we would usually open the gifts on Christmas Day. Unlike our German tradition of opening presents on the Eve of Christmas. Of course, they voted to keep the German way as they cannot wait any longer :D
I told the girls that when we were young, we have kris kringle and exchange gifts instead of advents calendars. They are willing to try this (we did and they had fun!).
I told the girls that when we were young, our Christmas Eve food would always include ham and cheese; and the much awaited spaghetti aside from the usual rice cakes. They got excited about the spaghetti.
I told the girls that when we were young, there are always people coming in and out of our house during Christmas time. The same with all the houses in the Philippines. There would be food, gift-giving, money passing around... and almost all the relatives and friends that you havent seen for years would be giving an appearance.
I told the girls that when we were young, we always greet our elders with a kiss in the hand. Well, kissing on the cheeks is widely accepted now -- but I would have loved for them to get used to this tradition, too.
I told the girls that when we were young, our parents, relatives and friends would bring us to an almost daily Christmas parties. There we would received gifts, would be fed, would be joining games and receiving prizes, and winning raffles. They are eager to join; but was asking that parties be done near our house only :D
Oh, but we have enough time to learn and enjoy these 'new' old Christmas traditions. And we are ready to start new ones, too!
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