The Filipina Mom in Denmark

December month in Denmark is not only about Christmas but also the time of Christmas Calender or the Advent calendar.

• The Tv stations (DR & TV2) usually make a special advent calendar tv series starting from the 1st of December to the 24th. Denmark’s Radio started to air Stories from around The World in 1962 then every year after that came the follow up advent calendars, then TV2 joined in 1990 with the “Christmas in the Old Wheel”. I also watched some of the old ones like Goblin’s Gang in Greenland, Krummernes Jul (I don’t know how to translate this one, it is actually a family name Krummer but it has double meaning), Jesus and Josefine, Christmas in Veterbro and others. It was entertaining but I think it’s hard for the foreigners to understand because you have to understand a little bit of the danish culture and humor. We also have this in the Philippine although I can not remember any particular one but it is the same 24 days airing but usually it’s very emotional roller coaster you know Filipinos are very emotional.

In DR1 there is an ongoing series called the Nisernes Ø or The Goblins Island and showing at 17:30 everyday but in case you are in Denmark and you missed it you can watched by clicking the picture. Although it’s in danish but you can have a peek what its all about.

• I’m feeling a little bit guilty since we haven’t made any Packed Advent calender to my son yet which is another tradition here in Denmark.I think l my son is too young to understand, that he has to open only one at a time but knowing him I know it will be a struggle everyday to keep him from opening all the gifts in just one day if ever we made one. My sister on the other hand had started this tradition since last year (my nephew is the same age as my son) because it’s her mother in law’s tradition the opposite of my husband’s family who are untraditional and that’s also includes me. My husband and I agreed that we will start when he is 3 years old that’s next year but I think tomorrow I will just to buy a chocolate advent calendar for warm up next year and I will see how he will react to it.

Basically a packed advent calendar is 24 pieces of wrapped gifts with 1-24 numbers in it and it’s just a small things in it usually cost 10 -20dkk but if you don’t have time like me there’s a lot of ready made in the supermarkets but it’s made of chocolates or candies.

Here’s a peek of creative way to packed advent calendars (Sorry I forgot the Source of these pictures but it either form Picasa or Photobucket, if you’re the owner of this pictures please consider it as a Christmas gift to me )

In the Philippines we have a our own version of gift giving or kris kringle, remember Monita/ Monito. This is done among group of friends, school mates and officemates. I remember doing it in school and in my workplace before. The mechanic is so simple for example in an office all participants will to have write their name in a piece of paper and put in a box then draw it whoever you picked up will be your monita if it is a girl or monito if it is a boy. I can remember it usually starts on the 16th coinciding the start of the midnight mass but it’s up to the group how long it will be. Then you have to give small gifts to your monito/monita everyday and it has to something the group had agreed upon and sometimes it sounds like this;

1. First day: Something soft

2. 2nd Day: Something Long and Hard

3. 3rd Day: Something Round

4. 4th Day: Something Sticky

5: 5th Day: Something Wet

and so on

That’s the funny part of it because you have o be creative it doesn’t have to be expensive and sometimes it’s irritating what you get. You should not reveal the name of the Giver or the (godmother or godfather) until the Revelation Day, the Christmas Party that’s when you’re doing to give the big gift. Once I received not so funny gifts in the beginning but in the end I got the biggest gift because it turned out that it was my boss who was my godmother (who got my name).

Most of the Christmas traditions are the same in many countries but with a little variations but I would definitely say that the Filipinos are more creative or should I say spicy in terms of traditions there’s no dull moment. We are very sociable and always full of laughter that some misunderstand it but we are happy people in spite of crisis we still able to laugh.

Exchanging gifts or gift giving is another spirit of Christmas and we have to remember that in this time of financial crisis we have to be sensible in choosing what to give and also what to wish this Christmas. For me what matters most is the time you spent with your loved ones and not the material things.

How about you do you also exchange gifts on Christmas eve?