Christmas is Coming

I always love Christmas. Even before I was baptized Catholic (in 1991). Alas, until now I always celebrate Christmas in summer. It means that snow, sleigh ride, chestnut roasting on an open fire, snowman, White Christmas and Winter Wonderland are just in the carols.

Being born from non-Catholic parents also mean that log cakes, Christmas pudding, turkey, fruit cakes, ham, cranberry sauce did not present in my childhood during the festive season. They are only in my Christmas storybooks and movies. I remember one time I asked my mom to buy mistletoe to be hung on my bedroom’s door. Nonetheless, it looked dull without the concomitant ornaments.

It goes without saying that I always love Christmas songs. The “always” works literally. December or July, I can have Christmas tunes to satisfy my audio senses. My friend used to tease me that I have “wrong-season syndrome”.

I used to have heaps of Christmas audio-cassettes at home (and now surely I have to change them with CDs). My favorites are always those sung with choirs. It brings the solemnity through the slow soft tunes it carries. It is the closest to Cathedral from home.

I liked to watch Christmas movies, especially those family movies. It may sound rather childish and placid but I used to watch Home Alone. Not that I was captivated by the story or Macaulay Culkin, but I really savor all the Christmas moments nicely delineated by the director. I don’t need to fly over to US to know about Rockefeller Center.

The best parts of children storybooks (e.g. Enid Blyton) are those when the family or school is celebrating the joyous noel. Especially when they explain about the food, hmmm…. Including those in Harry Potter series.

Each year I bought stacks of Christmas Cards, I even collected some collectable and artistic one, or those with nice wordings. In my high school, I used to design and create my own cards but now, I just have no time (a very polite way to cache laziness?).

My preferred Christmas songs also depend on my age. Cheerful songs attract me more when I was younger. Entering the adolescent stage, Last Christmas by W.H.A.M, Christmas Time by Backstreet Boys and Mariah Carey’s collection appealed to me. Two years ago I love “All I Want for Christmas is You” sang by Olivia Olson for “Love Actually”, one of my favorite movie (is it because it is about Christmas?). Last year I dislike (disclaimer: only temporarily) “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” for the very high tunes that soprano needs to sing in the choir. I always love “Happy Christmas (War is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and “The Christmas Song (Chestnut Roasting”. The first one is also very deep in meaning.

And now, Christmas is coming!!

When I sauntered along Orchard Road and City Hall area, shopping malls and hotels have started propping up their big Christmas trees. Not long for now, I bet Orchard Road will be lit up. I wonder what the colors theme they will employ for this year.

Christmas albums from Vienna Boys’ Choir and Mormon Tabernacle Choir start visiting my ears again.

Ironically, on Christmas Eve I avoid being in public place (except church – preferably Midnight Mass), although they have colorful Christmas celebration and tunes. You know why? Because they just spoil the tranquility and holiness of Christmas (the day when Baby Jesus was born loooong time ago). I am NOT against any Christmas Parties, but just take a look at Orchard Road on Christmas Eve and you know what I mean. I just feel that it is not the right atmosphere. What say you?

Christmas is red and green…
… sometimes with golden sprinkles….
Christmas is blue and silver…
Christmas is WHITE… It is still my dream to have a White Christmas and a table-full of Christmas turkeys, cakes, puddings, etc etc etc who frantically invite me to savor them….
And who knows Rudolph with just pass by with Father Christmas…