I admit I've been gone for so long but hey we all need a holiday once in a while yeah? So, how did you spend your Christmas?
Me? It was just like a normal weekend just that - extended. Stress free though because it wasn't like how we do it in the Philippines. .
Well, the Dutch don't really do it over the top here and neither the whole Europe. I guess it's cause we're confused about the date. Who knows whose birthday that 25th and 26th really is could be someone else's who decided it should be the date. Okay, I admit that's one of the reasons I don't observe all that buzz the many of you do in this season but I have to admit, I enjoy the lights, the markets associated to it and the rest days.
Having said that I have to admit that I don't feel sad like the many Pinoys probably do while spending Christmas in the West. It's just so different in the Philippines and yes, it's going to be a different New Year's Eve as well.
No, here, they don't prepare a huge feast for the whole city on their tables nor make their kids wear polka dots with pockets which they fill up with pennies and nickels for the belief that it would attract money. They neither make them jump their highest to grow taller.
Wives don't go gaga over buying twelve pieces of twelve sorts of round fruits to ensure that they are financially secured every month next year. They don't do all that yet, compared to the countries who do Holland is world power. They just get themselves financial education which you don't really get in schools but elsewhere.
Oh, some do those here but you could already guess who, definitely not the Dutch or maybe .. some of those who are married to those who observe such New Year's Eve's rituals.
I have to admit, it's still a colorful tradition to watch but I'd rather be free and stress free so while the neighbors burn their money tonight flying beautiful fireworks in the air and shrieking all the other neighbors' pets to a risk of a heart attack, my husband and I shall share a glass of champagne while we enjoy the free fireworks show behind our closed windows hoping no one loses a finger or two, anywhere in the world.
How about you? What's New Year's Eve like to you? What's with the "oinky" on the card thumbnail? Make a wild guess!
Anyway, which ever part of the earth you are or whether you are somewhere else in outer space ...