" Ber na! " ( It's already ber !) This is just a phrase too familiar to Filipinos. "Ber" pertains to October, Septermber, November and finally, the much anticipated month - December. It is within these months that we hear random Christmas songs on the radio and Malls.
For me, the "ber' months almost always evoke nostalgia of Christmases of my childhood... and of pine trees. Our christmas tree was not made of plastic unlike today. We had a real pine tree for Christmas back then. I would go with Dad to get our pine tree somewhere outside the city. My dad would put the tree at the back of the pick-up truck and making sure it was fastened securely, we would then head back home at Dolores Street.
The tree was tall that it literally almost touch the ceiling. We would put a golden star at the tip of the huge tree and decorate it with shiny colorful christmas balls. Then my mom would sprinkle the branches with cotton to simulate snow. And for that final touch, adorn the tree with christmas lights.
It 's not just the tree that I anticipate with excitement during those times. It was the thought of presents that I eagerly awaited. I would have my clean and largest socks that I can find to hang at the tree for Santa Claus to fill with gifts. No, actually, as I remember it now, I would hang the sock at the window so as to make it easy for Santa to drop in my gift. I reckon that with the window grills, Santa would have to figure out how to reach that sock at the Christmas tree. Just wanted to make life easier for Santa .
Christmas would not be Christmas without the familiar " O little Town of Bethlehem", and other traditional Christmas songs, which are seldom played today.
But anyway, the "ber" months in my adult life, had also come to mean the expectations of a coming Christmas bonus. :)
Times may have changed. But still, whenever the "ber" months arrive, I still get that anticipation feeling , that excitement of approaching Christmas, just as I had back then.
0 comments:
Post a Comment