Of Christmas past

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As we busily prepare for tonight, I am sure most of the adults are feeling harassed and stressed, especially if they are doing the hosting. For others, there is the last-minute preparation for their token dish or dessert if they have been assigned to do so by the designated host.

Likewise, there is also the likelihood that one has to pick up a few additional dishes that were ordered from a restaurant or a caterer, or to help decorate or lend a few tables and chairs, put up decorations, order or buy additional beverages, or finish wrapping up the gifts.

Perhaps, some are busy with some last-minute shopping just because we always think we have enough time to prepare, and then end up realizing that we put off shopping too late and are now in a rush!

Increasingly, I’m sure, most just wish to get it over and done with, and get back to the daily grind with our office mates and friends, and eating out without all the fuss and having to deal with relatives we don’t really see that often.

On the other hand, there is also that segment of the population that dread Christmas eve, especially those who have recently lost loved ones and whose elders have dwindled, those who no longer have small children to join them — especially nowadays, as most married couples — more due to economic considerations — have only one or two, or even none, as they find that they really don’t want to and prefer to just concentrate on being a couple and enjoy a comfortable life without the commitment, sacrifice and responsibilities of being a parent.

In fact, a growing number of couples prefer to have a fur baby instead, leaving it to fate if they have a child or not.

But for Baby Boomers like me, I long for the days when Christmas and the holidays were filled with reunions that extended up to second cousins, when almost all knew how we were all related up to our great grandparents and to which clan someone belonged too.

Those were days when celebrations were filled with abundance and generosity, hosted by a patriarch or matriarch, or a clan who would host the families that had inter-married with another clan and had to be introduced to the family.

Those were thoughtful and considerate gatherings when almost everyone contributed food, drinks, time and effort; when relatives from the province who were well-known cooks took on the cooking duties and when relatives made sure that those who needed to be picked up and would likewise be driven home after the gathering. When all the children were sure to line up to the elders for the traditional pamasko of a couple of pesos to buy White Rabbit, ChocNut or bubble gum.

But alas, those days are gone for most Filipinos. In reality, Christmas is now mostly celebrated by nuclear families, comprising a mother and father and their children.

Extended family celebrations are now more limited, except perhaps for those more well off, simply because of the high cost of preparing even a simple festive Christmas meal that in the past would include all of the traditional must haves — lechon, chicken pastel, paella valenciana, baked ham, fruit salad, a baked fish dish, queso de bola and a slew of desserts that include leche flan, cakes, meringue, ice cream and lots of round fruits for good luck such as oranges and grapes. Definitely something you cannot afford on a P500 budget nowadays.

More likely, the Christmas meals by most families would be store bought fried or roasted chicken, a bilao of pancit or spaghetti, perhaps orange is still in the budget, a cake and soft drinks. The choice is also determined by the reality that for most working couples, they may be working up to the 24th and have no time to shop, cook and prepare for Christmas, and that fried chicken and pasta/pancit is what the kids prefer nowadays.

Even for New Year’s eve, most prepare a simple meal since most prefer to go out and watch fireworks displays or party with their friends.

As such, mostly the elders stay home to watch over the young kids if any, or simply to treat New Year’s eve like any other day and go to bed early.

It is now so easy to do so since those who can still afford it opt to go abroad or to some resort.

But take it from a Baby Boomer, embrace your family and the Christmas tradition, no matter how simple it may be, because they are still here.

For those who may have had to work and were contemplating on skipping the traditional Christmas reunion with their relatives in the provinces, you still have time to change your plans and make that effort to drive through the night and be there on Christmas day in your hometown as San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has said it would again waive the toll across its expressway network on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, continuing an annual practice aimed at easing holiday travel.

The toll holiday will apply to all SMC-operated expressways, including the Skyway system, NAIA Expressway, South Luzon Expressway, STAR Tollway and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.

Tolls will be waived from 10:00 p.m. on Dec. 24 until 6:00 a.m. on Dec. 25, and from 10:00 p.m. on Dec. 31 until 6:00 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2026, the company said.

SMC said the toll waiver is intended to benefit motorists traveling late at night to reach their families during the holidays.