5 things that never fail to bring out the holiday cheer

Whoever thought to celebrate Christmas at the end of the year, that person was on point. The coming of the holiday season after a year of working hard is just right on time. It signals the start of well-deserved break and sharing festivities with friends and loved ones.

We all know that Christmas starts early in the Philippines, and we all welcome it. After all, who doesn’t want to feel festive as early as possible? Here are some of the things that we look forward to once those ‘ber months start to come around.

Christmas lights

We all have a box somewhere around the house where we keep our Christmas lights, along with other holiday trinkets. Out of all the holiday items within that box, it’s the lights that make us giddy the most. In fact, there are times when we aren’t able to put up a Christmas tree (for lack of space, rowdy pets, etc.) yet somehow Christmas lights would make up for all that’s lacking. It does not matter how old they are, once we let these lights come alive once more can make any weary heart get cheery.

Red and Green

No other color combination signifies Christmas more than red and green. It is believed that this tradition came from an ancient Roman winter festival celebrating agricultural abundance. Homes would be decorated with evergreens and red berries. These traditions have since been carried over to our celebrations of Christmas. These colors go way back as symbols for prosperity and abundance, and they make us feel exactly that—prosperous and abundant—come holiday season.

Holiday songs and movies

Each of us has our own personal favorite movie or song that signals the start of the holiday season. For some, it’s that Bruce Willis movie. For others, it’s that trilogy about Hobbits. Some favor Mariah Carey over Jose Mari Chan, while others prefer Jackson 5 or Bing Crosby. Whatever your preference, nothing signals the coming of the holiday season than the sounds of Christmas carols blasting inside shops, and the sight of Christmas movies on list of shows on your favorite streaming sites.

Simbang Gabi

Can anything be more Pinoy than waking up at the early hours of the morning in December, dress nice, and head on to the nearest church? The decades-old tradition of Simbang Gabi has been passed down through generations, and it has never failed to bring out the Christmas cheer in every Filipino. Waking up early to feel the chill of dawn during the holiday season, the sight of church-goers before sunrise, the smell of puto-bumbong after mass—all enough to make us feel like kids on Christmas day once more.

Noche Buena and CDO Holiday Ham

Once that feast has been laid out on top of Pinoy household’s tables, you definitely know it’s Christmas. Quezo de bola, barbecues, lumpiang shanghai, fruit salad—the merriment Noche Buena brings is undeniable. Here in the Philippines, no Noche Buena would be complete without a Christmas ham. The menu may vary, but Christmas hams have traditionally been the centerpiece—and a must-have—on Pinoys’ dinner tables during Noche Buena.

And if you’re looking for the perfect Christmas ham this holiday season, CDO Holiday Ham is hard to beat. Once that perfect blend of savory-sweet touches your tongue, you instantly know it’s Christmas. What’s great about CDO Holiday Ham is that it’s made from 100% tender premium meat with absolutely no extenders. To give us that distinct holiday flavor, CDO Holiday Ham is simmered in special pineapple sauce.

Make sure that your Noche Buena is a true Christmas feast and buy CDO Holiday Ham at your favorite supermarkets, or buy them at CDO’s official Shopee and Lazada page.

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Editor’s Note: BrandedUp is designed to provide you with insightful, inspiring and educational content created by PhilSTAR L!fe in collaboration with brands like CDO Holiday Ham.