Preparing for the Christmas

CEBU, Philippines – Every Filipino's eager anticipation of Christmas is due, to a large degree, to the feast that the occasion traditionally calls for. Even in other cultures, Christmas always merits a special meal to be partaken by a closely-knit group, like the family. This is more so in the Philippines, where the Christmas celebration centers on the family.

Incidentally, family gatherings in the Philippines are mostly about food. Much more so when it comes to a long celebration like Christmas, ample planning and preparation are taken by certain members of the family. The challenge is to have variety in the celebratory fare and that items associated with the season are present.

The older women in the family are often the ones who are in control in the preparations. They tend to outdo one another in showcasing heirloom family recipes which they have inherited from their women of the previous generations. This explains why, even in the light of modern ingredients, some family recipes insist on the old-school components and procedure.

The website www.kitchn.com notes that with the houses and the streets decorated with lighted 'parols' and twinkling holiday lights, the family dining tables are the common destination as soon the clock hits midnight on Christmas Eve. While a family elder says grace, the kids feign calm but are actually fidgeting in excitement upon the sight of the spread laid out before them.

As it is, the Christmas dinner is definitely one of the most significant feasts of the year. Thus, it needs forethought and some prior arrangement. With proper cooperation among family members, the treats can trigger precious memories.

Two or more of these Christmas classics, according to www.kitchn.com, are most probably to find their way into the Filipino Christmas dinner.