Christmas in the 2020

Photo from Google

 We're breaking a lot of our Christmas traditions this year.

Because this year is incredibly difficult for all of us and we wanted to keep our bubble as tight and as little as possible. 

Im in the Philippines and as you know, Philippine Christmas is like no other. Its not something we celebrate for 2 days we started the Christmas festivities from September until January 2-3. We also have a tradition of "Pamamasko" wherein children from the neighborhood and our "inaanak" (godchildren) would go house to house and get their gifts or money, aside from that we have a 12 year tradition of giving back to the kids here where we pack goodie bags full of chocolates/candies and minicakes etc.

But this Christmas is one for the books - i hate to admit it, but this is one of the saddest Christmas ive ever had in my existence. The family is not complete for the first time. My sister is in SG and cant go home, my brother spent his Christmas with his family (its the first time they are spending it at their home) so there is only 3 of us spending the eve physically. We didn't do the Christmas goodies this year as we know it will go to waste (again no children allowed to go out). We were'nt able to do the yearly gifts to the oldies in our neighborhood too. 

Christmas Morning was not better, we went to Christmas Mass the first we've all went to our parish church since March. Then my brother and his kids went to our house to spend Christmas Day with us and my sister as usual 'zoom-ed in'. There were no children knocking on doors, there were no caroling and no laughter heard from outside. It was like a normal day. 

I bet the New Year is going to be the same. 

Im sorry if I sound so ungrateful and everything, I just lost the feels in this season - I started so positive with this season, I even decorated early, I guess I just got tired. If you continue keeping your energy up its going to let up sooner or later. I guess it already happened. 

I guess this is how we celebrate everything now, since the pandemic is never letting up. There's even a new mutation of the virus. I dont want to spend 2021 like this anymore. 

Lord Help us.