Christmas in the war years

These days when the Christmas season is celebrated with glow and jollity especially in the cities, I cannot help but remember the time when its celebration was austere and very simple. These were the Christmases during my childhood from 1942 to 1944, the years when World War II raged.

 In those years we spent the seasons of our Lord’s birth in the mountain barrio of Lumbo, Malabuyoc, in southern Cebu, where we evacuated. The place is about nine kilometers from the town center and (in those days) could be reached only through two footpaths one of which traversed along steeply rising hillsides filled with rocks and deciduous trees, while another followed a zigzagging terrain interspersed with gullies and wasteland-like areas where stunted trees and thick shrubbery grew.

 Being inaccessible to motor vehicles, Lumbo was therefore safe from the incursion of Japanese troops a contingent of which occupied a garrison in the poblacion. So life in the barrio went on almost in the same way it used to be, except for certain inconveniences caused by the war.

 Christmas, like feast day, continued to be celebrated in the barrio although in a subdued way. We still made lanterns and hung these by the window lighted with oil lamps. But “papel de japon” being unavailable, we used old newspaper as covering. At day time these lanterns looked unattractive but at night their yellowish glow although rather dim was a sight to behold. Almost every house had such lanterns for the belief was that on Christmas day the Lord would pass by and these would light His way. Belen? The barrio chapel had one composed of old statues of St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus arranged in the altar and decorated with live greenery and flowers.

 In some houses one could still see colored silver papers, perhaps those saved from better days, but one could seldom find a Belen. Christmas trees were seldom found too, although maguey flowers branches were available. (In our house, we used this one for our tree, decorated with colored papers and fruit).

 Fruit, especially bananas, were usually hung by the doorway to serve as Christmas décor. When carolers came some of these were given out as gifts. For carolers were aplenty especially on Christmas eve and on the day itself. Some of them would sing the daygon, a narration in songs on the events leading to the birth of Jesus. This usually lasted from thirty minutes to one hour, and if one was patient enough to listen, he would be touched by the message being conveyed.

 Carolers were usually given a bundle of camote or green bananas or fruit instead of money because money as a medium of exchange was very rarely used. So one could see these singing visitors carrying with them sacks or large baskets where they placed their Christmas treasures as they went about from house to house.

 On Christmas eve it was the practice to prepare delicacies for family members. At home our mother would cook rice cakes, fried bananas, and biko using sugar juice distilled from the water of young coconut. These we partook of at twelve o’clock, the time when Jesus was believed to be born. While waiting we spent the night in a story-telling session during which our mother would narrate to us Bible stories particularly the one related to the birth of the Messiah. The hour of His birth was greeted with complete silence and reflection. No firecrackers could be heard.

 “What about the Misa de Gallo?” you, might ask. This we keenly missed during those years. Although in the town church the nine-day masses were held only those who had Japanese-issued I.D.’s were brave enough to venture out at dawn.

Now as I look back to those difficult years when privation and fear haunted our lives, I realize how great a blessing we now enjoy as we savor the gayety and fellowship at Christmas in full freedom.