Filipino Christmas

My impressions of Christmas in the Philippines have changed drastically every year we've lived in Manila. The first year I was appalled to hear Christmas carols in September and alarmed when our friends had their tree and decorations up before Thanksgiving. The second year we put our tree up before Thanksgiving and enjoyed the abundant holiday celebrations around the city much more. This year I'm ready to assimilate even more. Halloween is done...bring on Christmas. I am so excited that I've already started taking notes, drawing sketches, holiday shopping, working on our Christmas card. Filipinos are really good at glitzy sparkly over the top Christmas (not just Christmas but anything really) and I kind of wanna jump on the bandwagon this year. It's our last year in the P.I. so why not? I guess you could say I've gone a little native when it comes to celebrating Christmas.

I was truly inspired by a friend's Halloween party we attended on Sunday. She LOVES Halloween and has her entire life. It was the most immaculate Halloween party I've ever seen. The decorations and food and the passion she put into making everything look so wonderful was amazing. It got me thinking about Christmas.

I LOVE Christmas! This year I am going to really go for it. My first project was planning a small Christmas tree for the girls. I went to Rustan's for inspiration. I love their home floor during Christmas. Here's just one section of the Holiday decor. Every corner is a new theme and style of Christmas decorations. I'm pretty traditional in my decorating for the holidays. Silver and purple just doesn't say Christmas to me but I'm willing to push the envelope a little this year. I picked up some coordinating shatter proof ornaments for the girl's tree and then on the way home from getting Addie as school we stopped by a roadside vendor and bought an $8 handmade painted twig tree. Addie was so excited to decorate it.

Here's how it turned out. Complete with Addie's handmade star on top with leftover jewels from her Halloween costume. And a baby blanket wrapped around the base Charlie Brown style. It's the first coordinating tree I've ever done. I love the bright green, silver and a hint of pink. It's way more sparkle than I've ever done. It's the girls' Filipino Christmas tree. Last night Ayala St. turned on their Christmas lights for the first night, so Christmas has officially started here in Manila. I say, "bring it on".