Tracking Santa: The 9th Day
(December 9)
Today I learned how the people from the Philippines celebrate their Christmas season. The Filipino people—also known as ‘Pinoys’—celebrates their Christmas season like no other country does. Well—after all, every country has its own special way of celebrating the season of giving.
Anyway, how did I learn it, you ask? Today was the day of the International Elvish Union Conclave. Representatives from different countries visited the north-pole, they gathered together to talk about plans for Christmas Eve. They talked about the paths Santa can go through, the air traffic during the Christmas week, and so on.
So after the International Elvish Union Conclave was done, I had the chance to talk to the Filipino representative. Her name was Maria Fe. A unique elf, I must say: she was wearing their unique baro’t saya, and her hair was tied in a bun on the back of her head. Every strand was neatly combed and you will never see any strand astray, even at closer inspection. She had almond-brown skin her cheekbones protrude. Such a unique person, so I just had to ask how they celebrate Christmas in the Philippines.
“Well,” Maria Fe began. “The Filipinos are the earliest to start the Christmas season. We start decorating our houses right after the Day of the Saints, otherwise known as the All Soul’s Day.”
She said the Day of the Saints, which is held every 1st of November, is a day celebrated for the departed beloved.
“After the gloomy season of All Saints’ Day, we start to erect our Christmas trees. We put every brilliant decoration we can think of, and we generously put LED lights on it.
“Also, as the Christmas season begins, delicacies called puto bumbong are sold on the streets. Puto bumbong is simply a rice cake in the color of purple, with the shavings of dried coconut meat. Brown sugar is put as a sweetener, and it is wrapped with banana leaves. Simple, yet no other people than the Filipinos can do it so deliciously.
“Families visit their ancestral homes to pay homage to their relatives. They meet their lolo and lola (grandfather and grandmother), kiss their hands, and ask for aguinaldo (money gifts given to children). The Christmas season will never be complete without children singing Christmas carols around the neighborhood, asking for aguinaldos.”
And then she talked a lot more and more. I learned about gift giving, and that some cities in the Philippines try to build towering Christmas trees.
Well, we talked a lot more but surely if I wrote everything in here, it would take so much space that it might consume you whole, Santa Trackers. So that is it for now as I have to sleep for tomorrow. Good night!
Your Tracking Santa Anchor,
Angel
