our first Christmas together!

it's weird celebrating christmas in NZ. first coz it's warm and sunny, second coz it didn't have all the christmas things i'm used to - no simbang gabi, no puto bumbong, no kids caroling every night 'til you ran out of coins to give, not everything is covered with christmas lights, the radio doesn't play christmas songs every hour or so and the belen isn't the center of the event. certainly it is not as spiritual as what i'm used to. i must admit that the filipino community did have a sort-of simbang gabi every 7pm but it's not the same as getting up early in the morning to attend the 4am mass.

lacking with all the christmas reminders, it was no surprise that i didn't feel christmassy at all even when it was the 24th. when the week before christmas should have been office christmas parties, exchanging gifts with friends, frantic last-minute shopping - i was working and going to job interview.

the first time i really felt the christmas spirit was when we went to victoria square for the carols by candlelight. it was lovely. the park was packed with happy people listening and singing to the christmas carols. we brought 2 big candles which helped lit countless other people's tapers while we try to keep it lit against the strong breeze. we managed to keep it burning until we ran out of match sticks.

*****

christmas day was sooo romantic. martin slaved away on the stove while i was lazily watching tv. he prepared traditional English meal for our Christmas lunch:

ham - so yummy, and to think it's vegetarian!

roast veggies

Yorkshire pudding

and even tidied the kitchen and set the table so that it was perfect!

*****

i always wondered what it would be like celebrating christmas outside the philippines and now i know. it might be different from what i have been doing all my life but it's equally as christmassy.

it is not with hearing the carols or going to mass that you get a happy christmas, it is with knowing that you're celebrating it with people you love and spending rich time together.

knowing that.... i am happy.