Tuesday, November 25, 2008

What makes Christmas so special?

Christmas is around corner.....just 31 days to go, to be exact. What makes it so special? Why do everyone seems to have such an enjoyable time this time of year. Shopping discounts....booze....partying all night long....or maybe its just to usher in the new year. Even my Muslim friends and colleagues were anxiously anticipating what to do for Christmas.
Well, as for me and my family, it's family gathering and reunion. I have a small family. Since my dad passed on ages ago, we do not have much family reunions. During Chinese New Year, we would be sleeping or watching TV. I for one disliked to visit my dad's family as we were not close. Communication was also a barrier. I'm part Hainam, part Baba & Nyonya. I'm totally foreign to the Hainam language. I only know "Bong-kang" which is "Stupid", or "Chiak-peng" which is "Eat Rice". Furthermore, my dad's family would be calling me "Ah Jinnnnn", much to my disgust (gave me the chills every time they call for me). To this very day, my family would converse in our traditional Nyonya language, Rachel is learning bit by bit :)
After our baptism (the whole family involved), which was about 15 years ago, we came to know Christ much better. And we also learned that Christmas is not about partying and booze, but to delight in the birth of Christ some 2,000 years ago. Yes, we ought to be happy, we ought to rejoice, and we ought to be thankful to God for sacrificing His only Son for our salvation. That is the main agenda, nothing else. My friends and colleagues often say that I have lack of social commitment coz I don't go to discos, I don't go for karaoke sessions (accept when Im in KL....Rachel and I would visit Red Box), I don't go clubbing....I hardly do anything else besides being with my family and church. Why all the fuss, guys? If you want to have a booze, can't you do it at home? You don't even have to worry about police raids (which I'm very much sure will happen) and spoil your day. You can even drink till the crack of dawn with no worries. You won't be paying extra entrance fees for discos and waste your annual bonuses unneccessarily.
Enough said. Back to glad tidings. Every year my mum would have prepared several mouth watering delicacies for Christmas. Turkey is a must (minimum 5-6kg)....we want to follow those Ang Mohs lar....hehehehe. She would also prepared her own turkey stuffing which is always different each year (that would include some liquor...rum in particular), her very own sheperd's pie (omg...drooling already), mashed potato, some assorted macaronis and spaghettis, lasagna, vegetable salad and cakes (rum again). And we would have a jolly good time having all those goodies with wine of course. And that's for day 1.....Christmas eve. Come sharp 12.00am, we would gather around and mom would be Santa Claus, giving out our gifts.
As for day 2, we would often invite some of our church friends for dinner. And we can have all of the goodies again (new ones of course) with some extra food brought over by them. We would have our normal Praise & Worship session and some carols before dinner. And it would last till about 2.ooam. We would have stuffed our belly with so much food that we wouldnt even bother to move....that's me in particular....hehehehe
This year would be a lil bit different. Pastor said that for this year's Christmas, there would be no service. Service will be made on Christmas eve at 7.00pm, and will end at about 12.30am Christmas morning. We were to bring 2 gifts each....one to be presented to God, and another for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I'm still praying about what I should be giving to God. Whatever it is, I reckon I would enjoy this year's Christmas as much as I had for the previous years, plus I would be celebrating my 1st Christmas with Rachel as husband and wife.

17 comments:

ßrigida ∫chmidt © Copyright said...

Hi Calvin. We belong to the same wave length. Speaking of Christmas, it's 31 days to go before this most awaited yuletide season. And I just blogged something about it today too!

Check out my early Christmas Greetings to all Yeah?!

Calvin Soo KJ said...

bridge...hahahaha. ya, great minds think alike...hehehehe. cant wait for it to come. cheers and god bless...

Unknown said...

sounds very exciting bro,wish i could be there in your house,celebrating with. any invites ?

this year i will make my christmas more meaningful than the previous ones,

Calvin Soo KJ said...

eugene, sure. give me a holler when you're in kuantan. then we can go mabukking in my house...lol

Reanaclaire said...

yeah, how about me Cal? I also want to go and eat the turkey with stuffings... i agree with u, christmas is not a time just to be merry and drunk, we must remember the birth of Christ who came into the world to save us... and we should be happy and thankful for that reason.. yes, this year, i gonna organise a party for my family members too.. to exchange gifts of love....

Anonymous said...

1 month to Xmas...and I haven't sent out my cards. Oh dear! U Hainan nang kah? An old Hainan couple ran the canteen at the college in Spore where I was studying and the man always said to me, "Jiak to jiak kau bui bui, do me tay?" He should see me NOW! Hahahahahaha!!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm a Grinch, dun tok about Xmas to me... *grunt* Stupid wan... pressie and stuff... DIE LA this year economy not good...let me hide first. *grunt* *runs*

Anonymous said...

Hidup Deepavali, Deepavali the best, nonid me give angpow or give present. LMAO.

Anonymous said...

Hope you have great xmas this year , Calvin! And post more great food!

Calvin Soo KJ said...

reana, you're most welcome to share the turkey if you're in kuantan...hehehe.

stp, me too...hahahaha ;)

clef, once a year only lor. the gifts also no need expensive one. it's the heart that counts. x'mas card oso good enuff. giving out presents also only a tradition. follow ang mo lor...hehehe

chrisau, i will. hope you dont drool over your pc...lol. cheers...

Josephine said...

I don really celebrate christmas, but I am expecting present from my DEAR. hahaha...

Calvin Soo KJ said...

josephine, everyone is. especially the children. aiya, present from your dear not only christmas mah. should be 24/7, 365 days...lol. but i guess he should be able to save some money as christmas usually gives a lot of discounts. then you should tackle him to give you more than 1 gift....hehehe

Anonymous said...

AIyoo, Calvin, my family multi religion and multi racial punya. Everything also got celebrate. Thank God not yet have any family members who celebrate Deepavali, if not... pengsan! Give cards onli paiseh la... cuz alot kids in the family. Auntie me around... huhuhuhu the adults give cards nvm la. but kids, really get influenced by ang mohs...susah ooo... CNY nonid say... I dun even wanna tink bout it... ahahaha... angpow will practically kill me!

Calvin Soo KJ said...

clef, before your reply, i was ok. now that you've mentioned cny, the sudden rush reminded me that im already married and i have to give out ang pows next year.....arrghhhhh!!!!! better start saving now....heheheh

Anonymous said...

LOL... now onli you remember... I've been giving angpows for 6 years.... *grunt* next year is 7th years liao... *karplunked!* must start saving ahhh. *I'm on panic mode oredi... cny need to buy visiting gifts(if not wa very paiseh when visit ppl), gives angpow(omgm, so many kids and newborns!)... the horror! What's more, it's in two month... *faints*

Anonymous said...

Your Christmas plans sound great - good tidings, joy & peace! Ahh...turkey must have... your mum can really cook up a storm leh. If I'm in kuantan, i'll surely gatecrash your party, man! I'm married to a Hainanese and I'm used to that dialect now - can almost speak most of it - how about that?! :P

Malaysian Joe said...

Christmas... :). Roast Turkey... :).

Above all, Christmas is a time for giving... Chinese New Year is also a time for giving... have to wait and see on the bonus..

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