From: clare@nynexst.com (Clare Chu)
Subject: Re: So this is Christmas?
Organization: Nynex Science and Technology
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 92 15:48:37 GMT

In article <Bzztu1.L5x@inews.Intel.COM> sedayao@chopin.intel.com writes:
>
>> 	"How do you look at and spend Christmas?"
>
>I agree with you - I think that future definitions will be doing the 
>secular Christmas thing.  I doubt that that after a few generations, any 
>immigrant group will be able to avoid some acceptance of secular Christmas.
>When I went to the malls this season, many Asian Americans were shopping
>for Christmas.  It looked to me as if they bought into the American style
>Christmas.

  That was how it was growing up.  My mom did the Christmas tree
  and my relative sent presents to each other and put it under the
  tree.  My dad put on "White Christmas" and we all sat around in
  the hot California sun thinking about sleighrides and snowmen.
>
>Also, you seem to assume that all Asians don't have a Christmas tradition.
>Filipinos have a Christmas tradition.  My wife (who is from the Philippines)
>always complains that Christmas is so much better there than in the U.S.

  Seems to me a lot of Asian Americans (at least the Chinese-cu and Korean-cu
  are fundamentalist Christians!).  You're right.  A lot of people assume
  that AAs are Buddhists, for some reason.  Most of the AAs I know are
  born-agains and try to drag you to church all the time.  One even tricked
  me into going to a party, until she pulled into a church parking lot!
>
>My Christmas eve started with a 5 mile run, in preparation for the massive
>orgy of eating I knew would soon occur.  After the run, my wife and I went
>to her sister's house, where we ate and opened presents.  After than, we went
>to my parents house and ate dinner.  From there we went to a Catholic midnight
>mass (along with a zillion other Filipinos).  After the mass, we returned to
>my parents house and ate once more.  We opened presents, and then went home 
>to sleep.  On Christmas day, we went to another party and ate.  We then 
>visited some other friends and ate.  We then went directly home, unable to return
>to my parents house, who wanted us to eat some more.  Day after Christmas - long
>work out!

  Wow, the food must have been good.  All I remember when I used to visit
  my Filipino friends for parties is the food, food, food, and more food.
  Lumpias (which those dastardly Chinese-cu dared to despoil), lechon,
  adobo, shrimp, pancit, etc., etc., etc.  No wonder you had to work out!

  Our Christmas dinner was rice and beans, lechon, pasteles, and salad.

  My brother-in-law watched cheap horror movies as Tony was opening presents
  so it looks like I'll have to replace the audio track on the video I
  took (full of blood-curdling screams and violent sounds).
>
>> I hope that your holiday weeks will be just as enjoyable!
>
>It was enjoyable, especially if you like to eat.
>
 
  Now if only Tony will marry a Filipina, so I can get invited to the parties... :-)
  Because I sure like to eat!  And not cook.  Luckily most of my in-laws and
  relatives don't expect me to cook any Chinese-cu food because a) I don't
  know how, and b) I like {Latino,Filipino} food better.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american