A reflection on ‘Christmas wonder’

I was filled with delight and nostalgia alike after reading Anna Cristina Tuazon’s article “Christmas wonder,” (Safe Space, 12/5/24).

Growing up as a child in a practicing Roman Catholic family, Christmas was always a time of joy and tradition. I remember the happy memories—peppered with the excitement of decorating our old Christmas tree, hanging our parol near the door, and stringing up Christmas lights on the facade. I remember the feeling of being able to fully immerse myself in the moment, to just feel the Christmas spirit, with all its glee.

However, as time went by, I began to experience what many call the ”Christmas blues”—a sense of nostalgia mixed with longing and the ambivalent realization that the magic of the season isn’t what it once was. The joy of the season mellowed over time. No more Christmas tree. No more parol. No more Christmas lights. It became more apparent to me that I was slowly losing touch with the magic of Christmas, as life became more demanding and I felt less sheltered by the traditions I once cherished.

But thanks to Tuazon’s article, I was given the impetus to bridge the gap between the past and present and challenge myself to rediscover “a sense of wonder,” helping me reconnect with what Christmas truly means. We may not have a Christmas tree, parol, or Christmas lights, but in my heart lives the true spirit of the season—thanksgiving.

Jhon Steven C. Espenido,

Surigao City