Homeland

It is the celebration of Christmas and New Year that I missed the most in my homeland. There can never be as joyful as Christmas and New Year celebration back home. As early as the first day of September, Christmas is already in the air of my homeland. You can see Christmas decorations and different sparkly Christmas lights in the streets, houses, malls, offices, schools, etc. Wherever you go, you can hear Christmas songs on the radio and kids will start doing caroling in different houses. That is why I miss these occasions the most because it is extremely beyond comparison.

It is our custom that during Christmas and New Year holidays, the whole family celebrate together. Everybody is busy cooking because the Christmas Eve is celebrated with feasts. There is lots of food on the table and the whole family stays up until 12 midnight to eat together as tradition called “Noche Buena” and of course we exchange gifts afterwards. All houses have different Christmas lights and decorations as if everybody is joining a Christmas decoration contest. What makes it more meaningful is that the family goes to Church together in hour of the birth of Jesus Christ. Lots of children and adults are knocking on the doors and they sing different Christmas carols and the household will give money at any amount to them. Another feast in all the households is the New Year celebration. It is our custom to prepare 12 rounds of fruits and polka dot dress which symbolizes good luck and wealth. Some people cook and prepare for the New Year’s Eve where the family wait for the countdown and get together to eat. Other people are busy watching different types of fireworks and exchanging New Year wishes from family and friends.

Binmaley, Pangasinan is the special place in my homeland that I really wanted to talk about. This is the place where I was born in and it is so gifted with natural resources. It has a very beautiful beach which is conducive for scuba diving and surfing as one of our tourist attractions. Aside from that, this place also has lots of beautiful flowers where tourists really enjoy sightseeing. Above all, the hospitality is what makes the place more beautiful.  The people lovely smiles and delicious delicacies make Binmaley, Pangasinan a special place in my heart.