Listening and watching this video makes me excited for Christmas! This is one of the best and joyful performances of Mariah… i just love her voice and her songs. Though it was performed 4 years ago, watching it reminds me that christmas is fast approaching!
I am planning to decorate our home with Christmas decors this weekend and bring out our old christmas tree, clean up our Santa Claus and install christmas lights inside and outside the house… but hmm, something is missing.. one thing I wish to have is a complete nativity set. I hope I can acquire one this christmas.
As early as the 1st day of September, christmas songs can be heard anywhere… malls, radio, television and even officemates singing carols in the background. How time flies and Christmas is near! Some big malls and restaurants are putting up christmas decorations already. I can already see shoppers shopping christmas decorations and when on the streets – streetchildrens are singing christmas carols outside the car window. Christmas is indeed on the air and singing “joy to the world” makes this special occasion a day to look forward to. I wish and pray that the whole world will be joyous and blessed this Christmas.
The 9 consecutive early mornings of going to Holy Mass in preparation of the commemoration of the Baby Jesus’ birthday is how some Catholic in the Philippines express their devotion and faith to Jesus Christ. The novena starts every 16th of December and ends on the 24th of December, exactly 9 days before Christmas. This novena masses usually starts around 4:00 dawn.
‘Simbang Gabi’ is the usual term of this occasion in the Philippines where all the native Filipino foods like ‘puto’, ’sikwati’, ‘conchinta’, ‘budbod’ (in different dialects) are abundantly selling near the Church’s vicinity so that it becomes the next stop of the many Mass goers after the Holy Mass. I, myself experienced to buy and eat these foods after the mass and it becomes a part of every 9 mornings… bring them at home and serve for breakfast.
But what is really the essence of these supposed 9 fruitful mornings? My answer is simple; it is an occasion in putting Jesus first before doing anything else in the day. Putting Him first means preparing ones self to be worthy in celebrating His birthday.
So whenever I see all walks of life gathering in the Church very early, it reminds me of a 4-year old little girl saying to her mom “Mommy, I want to see baby Jesus smiling to all these different kind of people and give chocolates to those who completed the 9 mornings.”
Have a blessed 9 days of preparation for Christmas Everyone!
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