For many, Christmas is the most awaited part of the year. With all the exciting gift-giving, heavenly carols and fun treats, it’s really the season to be jolly. Not to mention the traditional festive Noche Buena every family prepares to welcome the Christmas Eve. But different as it may sound, Christmas is just like any other season for our family. Growing up in the province, we all have learned the simple yet meaningful true essence of celebrating our Lord’s birthday. And that is to stay simple, extend help to others and share the abundance of blessing we receive the whole year.
For years, our family have remained generous in sharing the season’s warmth to our neighbours, that instead of having a table overflowing with food, we would rather have a simple dinner and just save the money for tomorrow’s Navidad Desayuno or Christmas breakfast. Our mother taught us that the real celebration of this season isn’t just for few people but for everyone. That is why for many years, it has already became a tradition for us to set up a table outside our house on early Christmas morning, regardless of how late we stayed at night, just to share our blessings to our small neighbourhood. My mother would prepare breakfast like Chicken soup or Champorado and she will give these, in lieu of money, to give to everyone who is visiting us to ask for Aguinaldo early in the morning.
Over the past years, we have given away old clothes and toys to our less fortunate neighbours. There is also a year when my mother gave a bag full of sweet treats to my grandfather who played Lolo Santa one Christmas morning. He gave away those as Aguinaldo and you can really see the glitter in the eyes of every child who received the simple treat. It is such a great feeling for us to give and make others happy and special even in just a simple way.
I am very proud of my mother for she has served as an inspiration to me. She is a model of a true noble woman whose love for others is undying and great. Certainly, this tradition of Navidad Desayuno that we have shared with others and our family have exercised every year would live on even in the future generation of Butuan clan.
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