December 2009
Everyone has their own unique traditions for the holidays. My family makes Christmas our own by combining customary Philippine traditions with American ones. As much as I love New York during Christmas with the white lights lining the streets and department store windows, I can’t imagine this time of year without some of my favorite foods from the Philippines! On Christmas Eve we have a Filipino feast- Lechon is a suckling pig, Lumpia are fresh spring rolls and Relleno is stuffed chicken with meat, just to name a few.
And our more American traditions- the smell of a fresh evergreen tree, hanging glass ornaments and white lights. I play the piano and sing Christmas carols- anything from O Holy Night to Jingle Bells. And being my grandson’s first Christmas, I can’t resist taking him to sit on Santa Clause’s lap. It’s something I used to love to do with my son Kenneth and now we can continue on the tradition with Cruz.
-Josie
