Who are your ‘bringers of Christmas?’

MANILA, Philippines – It’s a popular observation that Filipinos love to start celebrating Christmas earlier than everyone else.

As soon as September rolls around, you’ll find the Go-to Party Planners sending Facebook invites for your annual barkada Christmas party, or the office Décor Idol setting up fairy lights and Christmas Tree figurines in every corner of the workplace.

The “ber” months are just like any time of the year but because we’re a people so fond of the spirit of the season, we start Christmas early here in the Philippines by smiling wider and getting a jumpstart on our favorite Christmas rituals.

Christmas, you could then say, isn’t really a specific time, but rather a spirit or a state of mind. And there are certain people – your friends, family, and loved ones – who make that spirit come alive. 

Just like mom who makes an effort every year to make the house glow, dad who remembers to blast “Little Christmas Tree” before dinner without fail, or your friends who go through the effort of organizing an intimate annual get-together, it’s the people around us who are the reason why every Christmas becomes special.

These “#TagahatidPasko” (“bringers of Christmas”) in our lives are the ones who, no matter the time or situation, can spread the cheer and make the air around you a little warmer, a little brighter, and a little happier. And it’s not just family and friends who do this: even the helpers who wake you up for Simbang Gabi or the vendors who peddle star shaped lanterns and ornate parols all contribute to the spirit of the season.

Thank you to those already feeling the holiday cheer, due to your own “bringers of Christmas,” for joining our conversation last December 5 on the topic using the hashtag #TagahatidPasko. You told us how you knew when Christmas was upon us, the telltale signs, and the specific individuals who helped bring the Christmas spirit into your life. 

Here’s what you guys said. – Rappler.com

#TagahatidPasko – Curated tweets by _nikkinat