Christmas in the Tropics

Palm trees, sweltering heat, and the islands- not really your typical Christmas scene. The “Hallmark” version of Christmas that pictures endless white snow and hot cocoa cannot be found in the Philippines; what can be discovered, however, is enthusiasm for Christmas that cannot be experienced anywhere else in the world. 

To say that Filipinos take the holidays seriously would be an understatement. Let me paint you a picture: news channels display a countdown to Christmas and Filipinos start decorating their homes for the holidays starting from September! Some malls would also start playing Christmas songs and decorate! Yes, you read that right. Two months before Halloween and three months before the first snowfall here in Canada, Filipinos spend four months getting ready for “the most wonderful time of the year!”

As Filipinos, we are almost late for everything so much so that this phenomenon has been named: “Filipino time.” So why is it that most of us are late to our own wedding but we are four months early for Christmas?

There are multiple reasons for starting the countdown to Christmas in September. Practically speaking, Filipinos usually have large social circles. It’s easier to have a stress-free holiday season if one gets ready for it as early as possible. Not only do Filipinos spend the holidays with family but also extended family, family friends, close friends, friends of friends, coworkers, etc… Another way of looking at it is that Filipinos are simply excited after working hard all year long! Looking forward to the holidays extra early also has to do with how hardworking Filipinos are. 

The “parol” is one of the iconic Christmas must-haves in all Filipino households, typically found hanging in front of everyone’s windows with intricate lights and colours.

There’s one main stereotype that people from other cultures tell me when they find out that I’m from the Philippines- that is how hardworking Filipinos are. Over the years, the world has seen how hard Filipinos work. What’s the number one reason for us working so hard? It’s for our families. The holiday season is the one time in the year we can spend large amounts of quality time with our families and express our love by gift-giving. You know how the saying goes: Work hard, Play hard! 

The practice of gift-giving is always seen with friends and families on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Throughout the years, I’ve appreciated how much effort Filipinos put into Christmas - especially living in Canada. My first Christmas here in Canada was one of the many times I was forced to reflect how different my current home is compared to my past home. Christmas in the Philippines is grand, extremely focused on being surrounded by family and friends, and celebrations last until the New Year. 

Not many of my extended family members immigrated to Toronto. Because of this, there was a stark difference between celebrating the holidays in the Philippines where there would be parties to attend left and right compared to the more secluded family get-togethers here in Canada. 

In the Philippines, the whole neighbourhood would celebrate all together. Everyone I saw on the street was either a friend, an acquaintance, a neighbor, or a family member- someone I would recognize. There was laughter everywhere and everyone welcomed you with open arms. In Canada, the streets are quiet. It is rare to have a close relationship with your neighbors and the warmest thing you can get walking down the street is a smile from a stranger or a short polite greeting. I’ve learned to adapt to the serene holidays here in Toronto and even appreciate quiet winter nights when all there is to do is read a good book and drink sweet tea or hot cocoa.  

After living for more than a decade here in Toronto, the one thing that has not changed from my move from the Philippines to Canada is how welcoming Filipinos are. Many fellow Filipinos who do have larger families here in Canada often invite my family for holiday parties. I think every immigrant knows how hard the holidays can be for other fellow immigrants- especially those who have newly arrived in Canada. Compared to the boisterous social scene in the Philippines, Canadians are more conservative and independent. When the holidays can be quiet for single immigrants or ones with small families, I am grateful for family friends that have shown their love and support when loneliness during Christmas echoes louder than the rest of the year.

Even as my group of loved ones grow and each Christmas is busier than the last, I still find myself reminiscing about spending the holidays in the Philippines. The reason for this is the incomparable excitement for the Christmas season! If you have ever heard a Filipina woman laugh, you know that it can be quite loud and infectious. That is the true Filipino spirit. It may be “too much” for others but that extravagance is what makes being Filipino so enjoyable during the holidays. It was a dream of mine growing up to experience the “western version” of Christmas but having lived in Canada now for most of my life so far, the excitement and chaos of the Filipino version of Christmas is truly where I feel at home.