It goes without saying that many of us are more excited than usual for Christmas this year. With Christmas 2020 seeing family due to coronavirus restrictions, we are all hoping that Christmas 2021 will be a very special celebration, with this year hopefully marking a time when things can return to some kind of normality.
In the Philippines, Christmas is much more than just fun. There's also a lot of hard effort involved! Much planning goes into the festivities, from locating the proper gifts to cooking delicious Pasko snacks. This typically begins online—and early—for many Filipinos. Here's how to make an impression on Pinoys during the holidays. To say that Christmas is an important holiday in the Philippines is like calling the Summer Olympics a track meet. The holiday season is a rich and vital part of Filipino culture and tradition, from generous gift-giving to extensive decorations, midnight mass, and lavish all-night Noche Buena parties on the Eve.
These things don’t just happen at the snap of a finger, though. They take lots of preparation, and for Filipinos, this starts by going online to compare gift options, find recipe inspirations, and seek advice on makeup, clothes, and decorations for the many seasonal get-togethers.
Another year has passed, and again Christmas is just around the corner. September is the month where Filipinos marks that it is the start of the Christmas Season. As September kicks off, songs and lavish displays related to the season would start playing and appear in public places. It is the first month with the “-ber” suffix which is also fitting since some of these months are associated with the northeast monsoon or “amihan,” when cool and dry winds from Siberia and China are blown to Southeast Asia. This results in cool air and low humidity.
From a Catholic perspective, the celebration starts from December 16 to the first Sunday after New Year. Nine masses are held in anticipation of Christmas Day itself, which is traditionally held at early dawn. This is also called “Simbang Gabi.” Eucharistic celebrations also help usher in the festivities with the church displaying star-shaped lanterns or “parols” and putting up “belen” or the Nativity Scene near altars. Well-known delicacies such as “puto bumbong” (purple rice cake steamed in bamboo tubes), “bibingka” (baked rice cake) and “puto” (steamed rice cake) are also sold by vendors to churchgoers.
In line with this, memes of Jose Mari Chan and Mariah Carey surfaced online as Filipinos digitally mark the start of the months-long Christmas season in the country. Some online users quipped that September 1 is the artists’ “comeback day” as it is the start of the period when their Christmas hits would be played in malls, stores and houses in anticipation of Christmas itself.
And of course, the decorations! There are current trends and themes show a whole range of Christmas decorations. With these inspiring suggestions for interesting techniques, material and color combinations, ideas for store presentation, as well as pointers to new trend-oriented products and the latest flowers and plants. Here are the list of trends for Christmas 2021 that you should try at home.
Cozy with whites
Full of whites and silver, associated with winter season these theme will make your home feel you are in a winter trips amid cold landscapes, as well as going home to warm homes with soft blankets, are both on our minds. A vibrant color palette with cool and warm neutral colors harmonizes with these winter fantasies, bridging the gap between comfort and the digital world when paired with natural materials and glittering effects.
Rich in Greens
Green is growing more popular as the natural globe's signature color, particularly during the Christmas season. A variety of evergreen blooms and natural materials pays homage to the environment while also promising a familiar-natural celebration. Botanicals are in fashion these days especially for us Filipinos. Christmas becomes a sensual, joyous celebration when combined with elegant accessories, a broad variety of materials, tactile surfaces, and many highlights.
Be Eco-Friendly
The sensation of connection is growing for us Filipinos we like to have a connection with our loved ones. The country's riches are generously shared with all. As a result, even at Christmas in the Philippines, decorations are manufactured from recycled materials, natural and sustainable materials, and are allowed to have a "handmade" appearance. Filipinos are known for being creative and uncomplicated, combining the childlike, traditional, and natural, while yet being open to modern and experimental ideas.
Browns and Crafts
This trend is centered on durable materials and craftsmanship, which together represent a valuable design. Warm brown tones on rich, typically soft materials, sheen, and mica create a feast that is as lavish and extravagant as it is appropriate for the time and gives a sense of familiar elegance and security which Filipinos loved.
Simple and Natural
This pure yet festive motif, which symbolizes that Filipinos is centered on a love for simplicity, nature, and sustainability. We seek a getaway with warmth and consistency, especially during the Christmas season, by avoiding bright colors and surrounding ourselves with soft shapes that soothe our senses. A comfortable holiday vibe is created by combining numerous natural materials and colors with natural greenery, matte gold, and candles.
Elegant
In these uncertain times, there is a growing desire for timeless elegance and solid values. From a floral standpoint, enchanting poinsettias and deep red amaryllis are the essence of traditional Christmas red. Classic shapes and timeless design are built on a foundation of various colors of red coupled with dark green, cream, and gold. Purple has a vibrant and fresh feel to it.
The red-green-and-gold combination may be old, but it will never be outdated. It’s tradition, after all! Purchase for your home some ornaments of this color scheme, and pair them up with candles and Christmas lights.
Lastly, Christmas wouldn’t be complete without the uniquely Filipino “parols” or Christmas lanterns. Most “parols” nowadays no longer follow the traditional design. Creators are now adding a more modern touch, with the usual five-pointed stars now coming in 4-, 8-, 10-, and even 16-pointed-star shapes! Christmas trees with gifts is the highlight of the season where children also enjoys to derocate their Christmas trees at home. And the so called “Belen” is aslo being put up beside Christmas trees which symbolizes the birth of Jesus, with the 3 kings around. Purchase one for yourself, and light up your house with the Filipino symbol of welcoming the Yuletide season. Parols never go out of style. Homeowners will always have this decor to fall back on, should purchasing ornaments be too much of an effort for you. Buy one, hang it up, and you’re all set!
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