Reason 6: Christmas In January!

It’s Christmas time in the Philippines, and in lieu of snow and ornamented Douglas firs, I’m celebrating the Yule-tide amidst sweltering heat and naked palm trees. The most jarring difference between Christmas here and Christmas stateside however, is definitely the length. Beginning in late September and ending in early January, at this point it’s hard to remember a time when it wasn’t Christmas. 

Pictured here: Christmas. 

Not pictured here, or any where else in the Philippines: 

Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Another interesting difference is the prominence of both Catholicism and Western consumerism here in the Philippines. This odd union has led to a Christmas season speckled with both religious sentiment—including a number of infrequently celebrated Catholic holidays like the "Feast of the Epiphany" that manage to stretch Christmas all the way to New Years and beyond—as well as the more familiar corporate trappings like fuzzy Santa caps and be-costumed bus drivers.

Unfortunately I didn't have my camera on the bus, 

so you get this instead.

I didn't suffer too much from Christmas culture shock, however, as I was lucky to attend (despite 3000 miles of ocean) that seemingly inescapable Christmas tradition: a Christmas office party. Fortunately the good company of my co-workers and a few rounds of Secret Santa left my halls thoroughly decked by the end of Christmas (or should I say mid-January).

The whole Gordon College English Department Gang 

a few days before Christmas

Who needs gifts when you have good friends?

 Okay, friends giving gifts is pretty nice too. 

 No body wants the Secret Santa gift from the foreign guy. 
Hope she likes mint chocolates.

So, until next month...

Maligayang Pasko (Merry Christmas)!