Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-05-27
PHILIPPINE HOLIDAYS
DIR. EDwORDS WRITES OF THE FESTAL
SEASON ON THE ISLANDS.
Unique Method Of Celebrating Christmas
Holidays in the Philippines. How the
Filipines Enjoy the Event.

y
who are accustomed to the winter
Christmas weather can have no con-
ception of how things are in the
tropics, especially when the vast bulk
Of the people are Catholics. Christ
mas is the great event, and for two
weeks there is nothing but festivities.
balls, dinners, parties and church 60
ing. The religious part of the festiv-
al is always present. but it does not
interfere in the least with the merry
making. One of the noticeable fea-
lures here is the lack Of gift giving
which is SO prominent in the Ameri-
can celebration of the day. Some OF
the Americans keep up the old custom
ofsgiving gifts. but among the natives
it is almost unknown.
Christmas day is ushered in at mid
night of December Gath by solemn
mass at all the churches. and then be-
gins the merry making. The mass is
usually followed by ball which con-
tinues not only all the rest of the
night. but in most instances all
Christmas day and the next night.
Of course the same people are not
dancing all the time. but they take
turns at dancing. sleeping and eating.
The ball goes on continuously with
changes of musicians.
With us in the United States
Christmas is usually considered over
by the time the day is done. and we
are ready to rest for another year.
Not so here, however, for it is now
three days after Christmas day and
the celebration is going on just the
same. Instead of the usual decora-
tion of evergreen and mistletoe seen
in colder countries, the decorations
here are flowers, and on all the door
ways may be seen fresh flowers. while
the houses are full of the most beauti-
full blooms of all sorts.
The average resident Of the islands
is not averse to taking all the holi-
days possible, consequently there is
little work done between Christmas
and New Years. Servants consider
that this week belongs to them and it
is a most unusual thing to see them
about the house where they are en-
ployed. The Christmas feasting does
not require much labor in Manila. so
far as the natives are concerned. for
they live principally on fruits that
requiresno cooking. and rice. which
requires little attention. Meats are
not much in vogue here. consequently
there is no such elaborate preparation
for the Christmas dinner as is to be
seen in the United States.
Such thing as trukey is An nm
known quantity here, unless some
over. r.enthusiastic American orders one
sent out in Geld storage. This is tried
but once by the same person. for the
flavor of cold storage turkey is some
thing that does not appeal to the
taste, especially in hot climate.
enjoyed Christmas dinner with
Filipino friend, and told him that
wanted nothing that he did not have
on ordinary occasions. He took me
at my word and spread feast con-
sisting of fish. fruit, rice and pre-
serves. It was bountifully supplied,
and when we were through the meal
felt much better than is usually the
case of people who enjoy Christmas
dinners. There was none of the feel
ing Of fullness. and we were ready to
20 to the baille, as the dances are
called. We enjoved the rest of the
evening watching the dances.
There is none Of the roughness here
that is seen in some of the Christmas
celebrations in America. The dances
have none Of the abandon and hoy
denish rioting that have seen many
times in my home town. All is de-
corons, and the utmost gentility and
kindness of manner prevails. Polite
ness is the special trait Of the Fill
pino. and one of the reasons why SO
few Americans understand the Fill
pino character is because they do not
appreciate the underlying kindness
which guides all their intercourse. A
Filipino will lie most gracefully to
you il he thinks the truth will be
offensive. He does not lie through
malice but simply to be polite. All
of their actions are based on the idea
of giving no offense to a visitor. II
you meet Filipino friend on the
street he will do his utmost to make
you feel that you are the only person
he most desired to meet. He will do
the same to the next and the next and
to everyone that meets him. 1t is his
mate politeness, and he Is not inten.
tionally lying to you, he is just max
ing you feel satisfied with life.
i Clarence E EdWOrds