BLOG 17: 2023: A Christmas Throwback!

Christmas is coming up quickly and the holiday season is swiftly approaching! Now is the ideal time to begin preparing for the most wonderful time of the year because of the festive atmosphere. The atmosphere is filled with enthusiasm, from the sound of festive music to the dazzling lights. Christmas promises to be a season of joy and the creation of treasured memories, whether it is spent with loved ones, decorating the tree, or simply enjoying the coziness of a house. A week from now we will be celebrating Christmas again!

Hello everyone! For today’s episode, I would like to share with you a core memory from the 2023 Christmas celebration. Continue reading this blog, and you will find out what made our Christmas last year unforgettable.

Last year, I went home to Danao City to celebrate Christmas with my boyfriend and his brother. It was my first time celebrating it with my family and him. When I asked my mother what we would have for Noche Buena, she didn't have any ideas since she wasn't prepared for the season and there was also a panic buying rush at the market. When my sister told me that my mother had a samgyup griller from their gift exchange, I suggested, "Why not have a samgyupsal Christmas?" She agreed, and we went to the market to buy everything.

We prepared a lot of food. My boyfriend was assigned to chop and marinate the meat for the samgyup. My sister decided to make coffee jelly and spam musubi. I also set up the griller on the table, arranged the fruits and cakes, peeled the lettuce for easy eating, and sliced the ham. My mother decided to get my father’s picture so that we could feel his presence with us during the holiday season. We are all busy preparing for the Noche Buena.

After we prepared everything, we cleaned up, dressed up, and then began taking pictures. As you can see in the photo, my boyfriend and his brother took pictures with my mother and with us. This way, they would have a memory of celebrating Christmas together with my family. I was very happy to see them taking pictures with my mom, especially since it had been a long time since they had the chance to have a Christmas picture with their mother, as she is an OFW.

And of course, we also took a family picture. It was a bit lonely since we weren’t complete during this holiday, but I knew my father was in good hands. As we reflected on this holiday, we placed his picture frame with us so that we could still feel his presence and the true essence of Christmas with our family.

Rare moments need to be captured. I also have a photo with Bambi and my boyfriend. Hopefully, this Christmas, we will still have the chance to celebrate together. It was such a heartwarming feeling to celebrate Christmas with your loved ones, and especially with your favorite person during this season.

As we finished taking pictures, we started eating. I enjoyed every moment and every bite. We used chopsticks to fully embrace the experience of having a samgyup Christmas. The sounds of the grilled meat, hotdogs, and ham were all so delicious. The lettuce was fresh, and the spam musubi added a special touch of flavor. Overall, everything was delicious, and I thoroughly enjoyed having samgyup at home. For me, this was a rare moment for the family to have such a special time together.

As we were all full, we exchanged words and stories together. Afterwards, we decided to clean up, wash the dishes, and wipe down the table. When it struck midnight, we went outside to watch the fireworks display and greeted everyone with a joyful "Merry Christmas."

In a few days, we will celebrate Christmas again. I hope that this year's Christmas will be as memorable as last year's. I will always treasure the times spent with my family, the laughs, and the customs. Even though time passes, I will always cherish those vintage Christmases because they serve as a reminder of the genuine meaning of the season, which is love, family, and thankfulness. I will always cherish the magic of those previous Christmases and be eternally thankful for the happiness they offered, even as we continue to make new memories.

I can't help but feel excited and hopeful as Christmas approaches this year. I hope this holiday season will offer even more joy, love, and togetherness after the difficulties and lessons of the previous year. In addition to celebrating with loved ones, I hope that this Christmas will be a chance to make new memories, laugh with others, and discover the true spirit of the season. May we take the spirit of Christmas throughout the upcoming year, making it a time of peace, rebirth, and limitless possibilities. May this Christmas be even more warm and full of blessings.

ADVANCE MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!🥂

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and connect with my thoughts today. I’m excited to continue sharing my journey with you, and I hope you found something here that resonated or sparked an idea. This blog is a space for growth, inspiration, and conversation, and I’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or experiences in the comments. Feel free to share if something stood out to you. Here’s to many more stories, lessons, and moments of connection ahead! See you in the next post!