Christmas Past

I have such fond memories of my childhood Christmases. As I look back to Christmases past, the Christmases I spent as a child were the most fun and carefree. First, I was a child and need not bother about "preparing" for Christmas. Second, I was the youngest girl among my mother's side of the family- translate that to the most rotten spoiled brat- more gifts than the rest of the cousins. Not really. I was just being ...me.

I can still recall the wonderful smell of the pine tree set between the two houses in the compound. Back in those days, we don't use fake or plastic trees. We buy a real pine tree for the ban on the tree did not come until years later. There were no made in China or made in the Philippines Christmas decors then. Everything was made in USA. The exchange rate was $4 to 1 Php and the "in" PX (post exchange) stores then were located at Cartimar Market in Pasay city and Sta.Mesa Market in Manila. The "market"is equivalent to shopping center for Cartimar and Sta. Mesa were not wet markets. I remember buying PomPoms and M&M's for 35 centavos.

I don't know, but somehow Christmas mornings were cooler then. I recall the many December mornings when my mother insists I wear a sweater for the air was nippy. True. I used to watch my breath mist. My brother and I enjoyed talking just to see who "mists" big time. I love eating roasted chestnuts that Tiya Viring bought in Cartimar Market. Tiya Viring was my mother's single sister who lived with us. She had a big textile store in Divisoria and I thought she was the richest person my side of the universe. For me back then, Christmas was not Christmas without the pine tree and roasted chestnuts and the numerous gifts that came my way.