The calendar might say September 1, but for those of us who grew up in the Philippines, the moment the clock strikes midnight, the world changes. We remember the magic through the eyes of a child–watching our fathers slowly set up the Christmas tree, waiting for our turn to hang the Christmas ornaments, and for our tatay to lift us up so we could place the angel or the star right at the top.
Back then, a child’s favorite ritual was counting how many gifts had their names on the tag under the tree, getting more and more excited because they knew Christmas was finally getting closer. It was all about the thrill of,
Ilang tulog na lang, Pasko na!”
In fact, the excitement was sometimes just too much to handle. Sometimes, kids cannot even wait until December 25 to open their gifts, and they sneakily open a little and peek at what their gifts are. The magic of the Filipino Christmas doesn’t wait for December,
It starts the moment we decide to fill our homes with the warmth of shared traditions.”
The Soundtrack and the Streets of Ber Months
We didn’t even need a calendar to know September had arrived, we just had to listen. We remember walking past the local sari-sari store and hearing those nostalgic Jose Mari Chan Christmas songs crackling through the radio. He truly became the immortal icon of the season because his voice was everywhere the moment the month kicked in.
Outside, houses slowly started glowing with early Christmas lights and the iconic parol. And as evening fell, the streets came alive with the sweet, buttery scent of puto bumbong and bibingka as vendors finally set up their cozy kubol stalls, signaling that our favorite holiday snacks were back for the next four months.
Even nanay and tatay’s favorite evening news had a countdown clock, wherein they counted how many more sleeps until Christmas which was the ultimate bedtime thrill for kids. True holiday cheer isn’t about expensive gifts;
It is in the sweet and familiar scent of street-side kakanin and songs that have raised our generations.”
Growing Up, but Keeping the Magic Alive
As we grow up, life changes, and the way we experience Christmas evolves, too. The responsibilities pile on, and the holiday rush feels a little different than it did when we were kids stressing over our gift counts under the tree.
But there’s a comforting beauty in knowing that a brand-new generation of younger kids is out there right now, looking up at the same parols, listening to the same Jose Mari Chan tracks at their local sari-sari stores and homes, feeling that same magic we grew up with.
A home that starts the holiday in September is a home that honors the child we used to be while passing the magic on to the ones who will come after us.
Happy Ber Months, Simpol Pips!
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