Hello Hivers! Good Day!
It’s me again, 
How We Welcomed 12 AM on December 25
I’ll share how we celebrated the arrival of Christmas Day. Ever since, my family on my mom’s side has made it a tradition to celebrate together, especially at exactly 12 AM on December 25.
The Wait Begins
It worked out perfectly because the 8 PM mass ended around 10 PM, so we headed straight to my grandma’s house to wait for midnight.
To keep ourselves awake and distracted, we played games and took pictures with my younger cousins.
I have three younger female cousins, and to my surprise, one of them approached me. This was a big deal because, before, she wasn’t used to hanging out or mingling with us. I realized she might have learned to socialize, so I cherished the moment. Every time we took pictures, she would sit on my lap, hug me, and even stayed close to me the entire time.
The Food and Preparations
The food was already prepared, and we were just waiting for the clock to strike 12 AM. Not everyone was in the dining or living area yet—some were outside enjoying the cool breeze and chatting about life, while others were in their rooms, either resting or asleep. Those who slept asked us to wake them up just before midnight.
Midnight Celebration
At 12 AM, we woke everyone up to start the celebration. While waiting for others to join us, we took more pictures.
When we were finally complete, my grandmother asked us to pray. One of my younger cousins, who knew how to lead prayers, was asked to do it.
Games and Prizes
After eating, my uncles added some excitement to the night by organizing games for the kids. The prizes included dolls, ring lights pop, milky sticks, and more. Everything they bought was so cute!
The kids played Stop Dance, where they danced when the music played and froze when it stopped. It was funny because you could tell who was sleepy—some didn’t stop dancing even when the music ended, while others froze immediately. After the game, prizes were distributed fairly to everyone, as it was all for fun. Two girls received Barbie dolls, and since one girl was already asleep, my uncle decided to give her doll the next day.
The Raffle for Adults
After a few minutes, it was time for us—the 15 and above group—to play. This time, it wasn’t a game but a raffle! My uncles had such a creative idea, with the grand prize being two butane gas canisters and the minor prize being a tray of eggs and many more.
In the first round, the prizes were cash, with the highest being 200 pesos. I received 100 pesos, which I was happy about. In the second round, where the grand prize was included, my uncles asked me and my sister Ishbel to pick from the rolled-up papers. Guess what I won? A gray travel pillow and half a dozen eggs! Even though I didn’t win the butane, I was still thankful.
Are you curious who won the butane? It was my grandmother and one of my uncles.
A Night to Remember
The night ended for me at almost 3 AM, and it was so worth it! We had so much fun, and the memories we created were priceless.
Until next time, Hivers!