The holiday season is a time to give, to be grateful, to spend time with family & friends and to reflect on the lessons learned during our journeys of this year.
So this holiday season, we went out and asked 7 first generation immigrant Filipinas about their holiday traditions and their Christmas wishes.
Kiya, an after school tutor, shared to us that her favorite holiday tradition is "The Thanksgiving Hand". She came up with this new idea where each of her family member reflects and writes down on a piece of paper shaped like a hand, the 5 things that they are grateful for that year. Her Christmas wish is for God to move mountains to give her clear signs and assist her towards her ideal employment so she can be free and bring more goodness in the lives of people living here in USA.
Kristie, an ICU Registered Nurse, favorite Holiday tradition is watching the "Home Alone" movie, when she watches this movie she laughs so hard to the point that her face hurts, it brings back a lot of childhood memories since she was so young when she first saw this movie. Her Christmas wish is to have more Love for self so she can give more love to others that leads to healing past wounds.
Chiari, an ER Nurse in New York and a courageous Cancer Survivor, favorite holiday tradition is opening gifts on Christmas Eve. She loves the look in the faces of her family and friends when they open the gifts and see that they got what they have wished for and she jokingly say... i guess even the grown-ups still believe in Santa Clause. Chiari like most immigrants, being thousands of miles away from their families during the holidays brings some sadness, so her Christmas wish is that she can be with her parents and siblings in the Philippines this Christmas because it has been 10 years since all of them have been complete as a family on Christmas Day.
Christine, a project coordinator in a contruction company. Her favorite Christmas tradition is spending time with family and friends during Christmas Eve Dinner or in Filipino , it's called "Noche Buena" . during this time they share stories, laughters as they enjoy delicious food. This Christmas, all she wanted is World Peace, and it starts in each one of us.
Nina, a Nurse Manager in a Health Care Center, shared that she had updated her holiday traditions because there were just certain traditions that were practiced and performed while she was younger and living in the Philippines that are no longer possible to do here in the US. Now, her holiday traditions are not about doing one specific thing or activity but it is about the moments with family and friends that brings joy, love and togetherness especially during the holiday season. Her Christmas wish is to have a heart that is open and accepting of change, new traditions, new perspectives, new lessons and new adventures.
Charlene, project management liaison said that her favorite holiday tradition is putting up and decorating the Christmas tree. This year has been extra special because this is the first time that she is decorating the Christmas tree in their own place in Valencia with her husband,Rem. Her Christmas wish is to continue to have an "Attitude of Gratitude" to be grateful to God for the blessings in her family, career, health, and to welcome more abundance, love, happiness in her life and her loved ones.
Mariel, a former pastry chef, now full time mom, drew inspiration from the King's Cake for their family's holiday tradition. Her sister Bonnie would hide a small plastic baby (supposedly representing the baby Jesus) in one of the dessert during Christmas Dinner. Whoever finds the baby would have to bring dessert next Christmas or buy dessert for everyone at the traditional Christmas Day movie. Her personal wish is for more clarity and tolerance. Good health and peace to all.
Your holiday tradition may be simple or extravagant, our hope is that you may remember what matters most in your life and may you be present in the " Now" moment to savor the love, joy and peace this season.
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah ! Happy Kwanzaa !
Love and Blessings,
Kaye & Mariel
Kaye & Mariel
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