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trivia: did you know that most people who read my blog are people who are not that close to me or those whom i don't know.
another trivia: did you know that most people who comments on my blog are people who are not that close to me or those whom i don't know.that makes it even special.
thank you very much
...to those who read my blog.
...for making me a part of your life.
...thank you on your comments.
...thank you on your reactions (from the blog up to my friendster ad e-mail account)
...and most of all thank you for making my writings worthy of your attention.
i am not a very good writer but i hold on to what i have once read-
'A word is a bud attempting to become a twig. How can one not dream while writing? It is the pen which dreams. The blank page gives the right to dream.
People tend to categorize themselves in accordance to the gifts that they receive.
For example, if you’re just an acquaintance, like an ordinary office mate you get a card or any generic gift (like figurines, photo albums) or as I call it ‘regalong hindi pinag iisipan’.
If you’re a barkada, you get a semi-special gift, like shirts or as I call it ‘medyo personal, kasi medyo kilala’ but if you’re somebody special you get something that is big time or as I call it ‘expensive’.
Now here is the question. What is the best gift that you received?
For most people they would say ‘can’t answer you right now because a lot of my friends didn’t present their gifts yet’.
If I were to tell you that you already have the best gift, would you believe me?
Of course not. Because culturally when we say the best gift it has to be attributed to the giver, which in our case is should be the closest person to us because of some logical reasons like- you know the person, you have been together for quite some time, you have been with that person through thick and thin,etc.and I have to agree because if that is the idea then I would still point out that the greatest gift has already been given to us two thousand years ago.And that is our salvation.
Jesus Christ laid His life down for us so that we can enjoy this season. He had demonstrated the ultimate manifestation of love. His life.
When we open our gifts its good that we appreciate it, but it is even better not to forget that the greatest gift is already in our hands.
Most people nedd a physical reminder, but we must understand not because there is no physical representation of the gift it means its worthless, remember what antoinne st. exupery said ‘what is essential is invisible to the naked eyes’
Merry Christmas.
What is common with these? Rush. Traffic. Shopping. Gifts. Money.
Yep,it all relates to Christmas. For most people, Christmas is far more stressful than any other occasion/season.
Now here is my argument. If Christmas is felt during the month of December and there are 31days in this month, note that from December 1 to 22 you are busy planning and buying gifts for people (either out of love, like gifts for friends, family, etc. or out of obligation, gifts for your boss, your office mate, etc.) or your too busy concerning yourself with the Noche Buena theme (what to cook, the menu, what kind of salad, pasta, etc.). It means that you only get to enjoy the season when its already December 24 up to say 29 because on the 30th, you need to take care of the New Year celebration.
Now that is a very sad thing. A lot of people today do not know what Christmas Season is all about. Though some would argue that it is the season for giving, i would have to decline politely, it is a part but it is not the truest essence, maybe it is agood manifestation but still the real reason for this season is somewhat, vague.If I may quote the famous song (in fact one of my favorites) Oh Holy Night it states there a very important fact, given about Christmas, it says-
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth, Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth, The thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Now the next question that needs to be asked is that why do this season seemed to be really joyful?
Most people in our generation would say it’s because of the atmosphere, the gifts, the mall sales, 13th month pay, etc. But the fact is that most people who feel happy this season does not really know what to be happy about, that is the reason they feel sad or worst depressed after the season ends.Let me put it this way, lets all be happy because “It is the night of our dear Savior's birth” (irregardless of any technicality, if it is the real month or whatever rebuttal you have in mind, fact I don’t care!) what I care about is that there is a savior who was born in this world, and took away all my sins. Gave me a new life. Gave me hope and made me feel loved, even if i don't deserve it and even if i have been the worst daughter ever.For most people, Christmas becomes a yearly routine. remember what Henry Van Dyke once said 'As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, new dimensions of the soul will not emerge.'Let's celebrate Christmas in its truest meaning.
The song 12 days of Christmas is popular, in fact a lot of people sing this (specially during some Noon Time Christmas Presentations) but the fact is, not so many really knows what it means so I came with some writings courtesy of the Salvation Army (Philippine Territory).
The first phrase "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…" the "true love" mentioned in the song refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every person who accepted God in their lives.
1st Day:
The partridge (flesh of either quail or grouse ) in a pear tree is Christ Jesus upon the Cross. In the song, Christ is symbolically represented as a mother partridge because she would feign injury to decoy a predator away from her nestlings. She is even willing to die for them. The tree is the symbol of the fall of the human race through the sin of Adam and Eve. It also the symbolizes its redemption by Jesus Christ on the tree of the Cross.2nd Day:
The "two turtle doves" refers to the Old and New Testaments.3rd Day:
The "three French hens" stand for faith, hope and love—the three gifts of the Spirit that abide4th Day:
The "four calling birds" refers to the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—which sings the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.5th Day:
The "five golden rings" represents the first five books of the Bible, also called the Jewish Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.6th Day:
The "six geese a-laying" is the six days of creation.7th Day:
The "seven swans a-swimming" refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.8th Day:
The "eight maids a milking " reminded children of the eight beatitudes listed in the Sermon on the Mount.9th Day:
The "nine ladies dancing" were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.10th Day:
The "ten lords a-leaping" represents the Ten Commandments11th Day:
The "eleven pipers piping" refers to the eleven faithful apostles.12th Day:
The ‘twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of belief expressed in the Apostles’ Creed: belief in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, made man, crucified, died and arose on the third day, that he sits at the right hand of the father and will come again, the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting.So why right it that way? worst why do you have to sing it?
During the period 1558 to 1829 in England, people were prohibited by the law to practice their faith either in public or private.
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the "catechism songs" to help young people learn the basics of their faith. In short, it was a coded-message, a memory aid.Since the song sounded like rhyming nonsense, young people could sing the song without fear of imprisonment. The authorities would not know that it was a religious song.
"The 12 Days of Christmas" is in a sense an allegory. Each of the items in the song represents something significant to teachings of faith. The hidden meaning of each gift was designed to help children learn their faith. The better acquainted one is with the Bible, the more these interpretations have significance.