Three months of Christmas
I chose this as the subject of my keepsake since it is something that only happens in the Philippines, the three months of Christmas. In other areas, Christmas begins in December, but in the Philippines, it begins in early October. I remember my mom asking me to assist decorate the home and the Christmas tree in the early weeks of October. In the Philippines, from October to December, we go caroling to each house, singing Christmas music. We engage in "simbang gabi" in December. Simbang Gabi is a Christmas custom in the Philippines. It is a series of nine dawn masses held in the days preceding Christmas. It begins on December 16 and finishes at midnight on December 24 with a midnight mass. Yet "Noche Buena" is my favorite part of Christmas. Noche Buena is held on December 24th; it is a family gathering (cousins, grandparents, nephews, niece, gradparents etc) where you sing, karaoke, play games, and sometimes simply laugh; it is similar to Thanksgiving but is celebrated on Christmas Eve:)
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