Yuletide cheer

December has just begun, and it seems like it’s going to be another busy month. As usual, Christmas parties are lined up, inviting everyone to join in the festivities. Meanwhile, local government units are finalizing dates to light their Christmas trees. These events become special spaces where families can bond, as many members return home to join in the yuletide cheer. However, amidst the colorful celebrations, there’s a subtle, not-so-cheerful undercurrent worth noting.

The economic impact of the current inflation rate has translated into more modest gatherings. This year’s festivities are simpler, driven by the mantra “less is more”. The usual glitz and glamour have been dialed down, as budgets for yearend celebrations appear to have already been stretched thin. In some cases, local government units have opted for smaller Christmas events, reallocating funds toward more pressing needs. After all, the Philippines was battered by six tropical cyclones in recent months, leaving many communities in need of aid. True to the Filipino spirit of bayanihan, we continue to give back, remembering how others have helped us in our times of need.

Despite scaled-down celebrations, Filipinos have weathered the year with resilience. While resilience in disaster response is no longer enough on its own, it reflects our ability to find contentment with what little we have. However, this doesn’t mean we should give up on demanding accountability where it is due. There’s little cheer in the challenges our country has faced lately. For instance, the ongoing rift among our top leaders has become an unwelcome spectacle, resembling a drama series that many watch with a mix of fascination and frustration --popcorn and tea, anyone?

In Cebu City, Christmas caroling has been regulated, with carolers now required to secure permits before serenading others with holiday songs. This measure makes sense, as some have turned caroling into an opportunity to beg for money, treating it as a temporary source of income. What should be a joyful expression of the Christmas spirit has, in some cases, become an exploitative act, tarnishing the innocence of the tradition.

Christmas, for all its joys, isn’t always cheerful. It can test our patience and drain our social energy. Year-end gatherings often turn into occasions to catch up with loved ones, leaving us wondering how another year has slipped by. At times, it isn’t all about catching up. Need I mention the extent of how horrible the traffic situation can get? Yet, in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, we often forget the true essence of Christmas --celebrating God’s love through the birth of Christ. The cheerfulness of the season is a choice, one that comes from welcoming this divine love into our lives.

As for me, I choose to smile my way through the season. Christmas is not really my favorite time of the year. Sorry to burst your bubble. At the end of the day, no matter how simple or grand the celebrations are, the spirit of Christmas remains in the joy we share and the love we give.