Christmas Is All About the Food in Our House

When my family gets together for a holiday, food is always a very big issue especially because we are a Filipino family. One Christmas, I remember we had a large amount of food. It was December 2012, and for the first time Christmas was held at our house that year. We had prepared for the Christmas party weeks in advance. All the decorations and lights were up around the house and the Christmas tree was beautifully lit like a clear night sky, with the star brightly shining at the top. Coming to our house for Christmas, we had family come from up and down the California coast.

Everyone was going to be at my house for Christmas, my grandparents Dina and Rudy, my aunts Maria, Madean, Charmine, Emily, Minda, Christine, and Sydney, my uncles, Pete, Don, Buddy, Ralph, and Page, my cousins Nick Jacob, Johnny, Kayla, Tianna, Jenna, Lucas, Tallulah, and Viggo, and even my 104 year old great grandnother Enriqueta. My Aunt Minda from San Diego had never been to our house before and as soon as she stepped in the door she said, “I love your house already.” Group by group my relatives were arriving at our house. We had generations after generations all together in one house. What a great sight to see.

As our Christmas party progressed, it was time to start getting all the food ready and set to eat. My grandmother in the kitchen, had finished cooking pancit on the stove, a Filipino noodle dish, which is tradition to have at every family get together. The smell of fried carrots and celery filled the dining room as my grandmother brought it to the table. Once the pancit was put down, everyone knew it was time to eat and gathered around. “Everything looks so appetizing,” said my Uncle Pete with his utensils ready in each hand.

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...per being ripped apart and thrown on the floor. About an hour or so later, all the presents were opened. My little cousins were all very excited about the gifts they received and could not wait to play with them. After all the thank you’s were given, it was then time for everyone to leave, hugs and kisses and “see you soon” were exchanged, and off they went until next year.

Christmas with my family is one of the most joyous occasions and food brings a sense of togetherness in my family and is something I will never forget. With my family tradition, I have become very family oriented; I would love to see my children follow the same for years to come. They too will become family-oriented, and they will learn that no matter what, family is always going to be there for them. Christmases spent with my family are memories I will treasure for years and years to come.