A season of strength, thrill, surprise, joy, excitement, and a greater faith reflects in my noble heart when the -Ber season officially starts.
SeptemBER, OctoBER, NovemBER, and DecemBER definitely bring out a merry holiday spirit in the Philippines, and they are known as the -Ber months.
What does -Ber months mean to Filipinos like you?
-BER MONTHS
B-ring a cold season and Bayanihan spirit.
E-njoying of Christmas Traditions.
R-ekindling of holiday spirit.
M-aking delight in all-time favorites.
O-verwhelming amusement welcomes.
N-inong and ninang are remembered.
T-he countdown is starting.
H-aving quality time with loved ones.
S-inging a Merry Christmas.
Bring a cold season and Bayanihan spirit.
All year long, the Philippines experiences a hot and humid weather but the start of the -Ber season signals a cold season and the breeze is so relaxing. It is really colder than other months so I really have to prepare myself for my favorite thick clothes just like jackets, sweaters, scarfs, and boots where I find comfort and warmth during a very cold season. Perhaps it is only at this season wherein I could wear them without looking funny since my country has a tropical rainforest climate.
However, it is sad to say that during the -Ber months are also the times when stronger and more turbulent typhoons are entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility. This time my faith becomes greater and I never cease to pray for safety of everyone.
I could even remember way back in December of 2011 when a strongest tropical cyclone “Sendong” entered and that was the deadliest typhoon to date that has resulted to a very heavy downpours and flash floods had destroyed a thousand of lives and left a heavy mark in my heart.
How painful it was but the “Bayanihan” spirit was very evident in the Philippines during that time, as it brings unity and cooperation for a certain goal, that is to help one another no matter what happens today and tomorrow.
During times of disaster, Filipinos share love, care, and support for each other in all ways of help and assistance. And this also reflects rising up during the most challenging and struggling of times in the Philippines. In fact, I had truly witnessed it during that particular devastating incident when everybody was helping one another without expecting something in return.
Enjoying of Christmas Traditions.
The things that are already part of our traditions and cultures are being enjoyed during the -Ber months. Waking up early for midnight masses, exchanging and giving of Christmas gifts, visiting friends and families during the holiday season, preparing for Noche Buena with loved ones, going for holiday shopping, and joining Christmas parties are the exciting part as I am bringing out the little child in me. Christmas traditions are really very fun and enjoyable matters to look forward for in this wonderful season.
Rekindling of Holiday Spirit
One way of rekindling the holiday spirit is to have fun in putting up Christmas decorations. It is always very fun decorating during the Christmas season as I get my hands on for do-it-yourself and ready-made decorations like the Christmas wreath, Santa and his reindeers, Christmas bells, Snowman (although we do not experience snow in the Philippines), Nutcrackers (I always remember this when I am watching Barbie movies), Christmas flowers, Christmas balls, Christmas Angels, Candy Cane, Christmas gifts, Christmas Tree, and all the Christmas symbols cheering up and bringing happiness to each one.
As a matter of fact, every year, I am starting to put up Christmas decorations on the first day or first week of September together with my dearest sister @erikasue . How sad it is that I have to fix it alone for now. I made it with a very heavy heart all alone.
When she was around, she must have been the one who would fix this simple Christmas tree for our family. But then, what is left is the golden happy memory with her. She will always be missed, cherished, and remembered for as long as life remains.
Making delight in all-time favorites.
Part of the fun is to cook all-time favorite comforting foods. Since it is a very cold season, something hot and warm is good for the soul like the most favorite blend of coffee, aroz caldo, creamy mushroom with corn, bulalo, tinola, sinigang, lomi, lugaw, and champorado feel so great to taste. They are my all-time favorites and they are really so priceless as these foods warm my tummy and warms my soul too most especially when there is a heavy downpour.
Overwhelming amusement welcomes.
One thing that makes me very excited during the -Ber months is the overwhelming amusement places that welcomes our hometown like the presence of Christmas bazaars, parks, villages, recreations, and all amusing places to visit with my family and friends. Being a photography lover makes me cherish and capture preciously all the happy moments with my loved ones with the amazing Christmas views and decorations.
Ninong and Ninang are remembered.
It sounds funny to say that ninong and ninang are remembered during the -Ber season. Ninong and ninang are the Godparents and they are present in our lives to help us be guided in the right direction. Even if it is not Christmas, they are remembered but what matters most is the love and care more than any gift or anything else.
The countdown is starting.
The start of the -Ber season begins the Christmas countdown. It is getting so thrilling and very exciting to make a countdown. The counting goes on for a merrier holiday spirit most especially when it is the last 7 days before Christmas. Nothing truly beats an overwhelming spirit of Christmas. Christmas is full of excitements, thrills, and surprises.
Having Quality time with loved ones.
When everyone is very busy all throughout the year, -Ber months pave way for more holidays to spend quality time with loved ones. It is not every day that Filipinos get closer due to work, school, and other important matters to work with every single day.
Personally, it truly bring out a cheerful spirit as I have fun and just be happy with every simple thing I have in life. Spending quality time with my family and friends is so priceless. What makes me merrier is a beautiful season of sharing, caring, loving, and giving as I get together with my loved ones.
Let every party begin and cherish what we celebrate through various themes, favorite foods, games, parlor games, gifts, raffles, and a whole lot of fun. Perhaps it is not just a celebration but having fun and being happy pricelessly.
Singing a Merry Christmas.
The jingle bells, the singing of Christmas carols, and the singing of a merry Christmas make a cheerful heart. I could always remember when I was young, the memory was so vivid when me and my cousins went for a house-to-house caroling as we sang the yuletide tunes and made everyone smile with our cute, innocent faces of childhood.
It is one of way of feeling a special kind of joy and happiness as the jingles and carols are heard in the neighborhood. “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.” That was so memorable and enjoyable. How I wish I am just a little child where my problems and worries are away but all I could do at present is to rekindle the little child in me.
And most of all, Christ is the reason for this season. Through the singing of a Merry Christmas, I am letting the good reflection of His unconditional love and care to everyone.
Let this season of loving, sharing, and caring for each other dominate and dwell in our hearts. And let peace and serenity rule through the power of forgiveness.
I must say that I may have grown but I always have the soul of a little kid whose heart feels the lightest as the -Ber months bring out a merry holiday spirit in the Philippines. Nothing beats a wonderful Christmas season. Nothing beats a valuable Christmas spirit. And nothing beats a cheerful heart whose faith is anchored to the most Almighty and Holy one. Perhaps the -Ber months significantly reflect thrill, excitement, comfort, joy, love, hope, happiness, strength during toughest time, and faith in God who is the reason for this season.
Disclaimer: All texts and images are my own, unless otherwise stated.