December 25 has come around again. Another Christmas brings with it an air of nostalgia for most of us. Maybe our childhood memories are still as vivid as they were 15 or 20 years ago. Or maybe not. Memories of Christmas Parties in high school create flashbacks that can make you cry due to laughter! And what of those in college? Hardly do I recall any because back in U.P. Manila, all I remember was studying in the library!
Well, in my case, Christmas memories continue to be as colorful and as poignant as they were --- because these were Christmases spent with those we love, and those who love us back, even if we were not made aware of it --- or felt it --- in a way we imagine it to touch us.
My remembrances of Christmas continue to revolve around the Belen. When I was about seven years old, my mother, Cristy, would assign me to make our Christmas Belen. I was to help assemble it on top of our vitrina in the sala.
Our belen's characters --- the Holy Family, the three kings, camels, oxen, shepherds and goats, and angels --- together with the structure of the small stable and the Christmas Star of Bethlehem --- were made of small and large pieces of hard cardboard, with a slit a the bottom of each piece. This slit is what you will need to put in between the round small base found at the main base of our belen. It helps to make your belen character stand, much like what we do with paper dolls of 'olden times' (READ: the mid-1980's, imagine!).
Beside our belen, I used to put up the 'house' of my nationality dolls --- Ms. Sweden, Ms. Switzerland, and Ms. Holland --- because I want them to be neighbors with the Christ Child and St. Joseph and Mama Mary.
Making the belen will always bring excitement and fun, thoughts of nights spent close to the Holy Family. And nights spent with friends and family.
Here in the Philippines, attending the Misa de Gallo nine days before Christmas is another story. Our neighbors would always sell bibingka and puto bumbong, native delicacies that you can only taste at Christmastime. I have to admit that 'food' is one big motivation for us youngsters then to wake up early and join mommy attend Simbang Gabi. But of course, I always love attending Mass early morning because of the cool December breeze.
In this part of the Philippines, Negros, Christmas is splendid with our Christmas Triduum in the center. It's when we prepare ourselves more intensely --- three days before Christmas! --- together with our friends and Cooperators. We have Confession and Holy Mass and serve some refreshments and snacks after the Christmas Triduum. When we had the Nativity Mass on the night of the 24th, we sang Adeste, Fideles (O, Come All Ye Faithful) and lined up to kiss the Baby Jesus. It always is a special moment, to come close to the baby who is in need of all our attention and affection.
Wherever we find ourselves to be, may we all center our thoughts on the Christ Child of the Belen. As a popular Christian saying goes, "Christ is the Reason for the Christmas Season." He has come to bring us peace, love and joy --- only if we let Him.
This Christmas, and all throughout the New Year, may we let Our Lord possess our life completely, because only in that way can we personally experience the peace He promises, the kind of peace which the world cannot give.
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