Christmas day is around the corner but I don't feel it yet. It is always the case nowadays - sighh, must be the age, unlike those days when the kids were small - the shopping for presents, clothes and the flurry of activities, spring cleaning and stuff. Not that we would be having a big celebration. As usual, it would be just the family, a Christmas Eve dinner and a midnight Christmas Mass at the nearby church if not on Christmas Day.
One of my happiest memories during my childhood must be Christmastime. We didn’t get any presents then but even the word Christmas conjures visions of happy occasions with joy and laughter. December was usually the harvesting season as well as the school holidays. My siblings and I would spend our holidays in the field helping our parents.
It was at this time that the paddy would be ripe and at its peak and one must finish harvesting them fast or else the stalks would just wilt, become dry and brittle making it quite impossible to harvest. My mom would tell us that we have to finish the harvest or else there won’t be any Christmas for us, meaning we would be spending it in the field. Of course she never let that happen! And we always finish harvesting way before Christmas.
It was at this time that the paddy would be ripe and at its peak and one must finish harvesting them fast or else the stalks would just wilt, become dry and brittle making it quite impossible to harvest. My mom would tell us that we have to finish the harvest or else there won’t be any Christmas for us, meaning we would be spending it in the field. Of course she never let that happen! And we always finish harvesting way before Christmas.
Paddy ready to be harvested
Mom and Dad on their wedding day..a looong time ago.
Rest in peace..
A few days or weeks before Christmas, being family of little means, my mom would go downtown and buy those cheap floral materials by the yards. There were 5 of us girls then, me being the eldest. Mom would cut and sew the materials to make into 4 identical dresses whilst mine would always be a little different from the rest like an addition of a little bow. I guess she did that because I was the oldest and I must have begun to show them curves..haha..
My mom would sew and the faithful Singer sewing machine would whirr into the night till dawn. She would not stop until she complete at least a dress. I would watch my mom cutting and sewing and I guess that was how I learned how to sew a little, though I know now that her cut were crude, unconventional and definitely not by the book. To us though, the dresses were most beautiful and we would wake up in the morning happy and excited when we find our completed dresses hanging on the clothesline. We would try them on with our half grin admiring each other.
My mom would sew and the faithful Singer sewing machine would whirr into the night till dawn. She would not stop until she complete at least a dress. I would watch my mom cutting and sewing and I guess that was how I learned how to sew a little, though I know now that her cut were crude, unconventional and definitely not by the book. To us though, the dresses were most beautiful and we would wake up in the morning happy and excited when we find our completed dresses hanging on the clothesline. We would try them on with our half grin admiring each other.
simple dresses, quite similar to the dresses my mom used to make
(pics courtesy of zalora.com)
(pics courtesy of zalora.com)
A day before Christmas Eve, mom would pack our dresses and other necessities and on the morning of Christmas Eve, we would start the about an hour or so journey on foot through hills and vales to my grandmother’s house. There, other family members - aunts, uncles and cousins would have already arrived. The buzz of activities begin, the adults with the food preparation and cooking, whilst the older ones spend their time talking, gossiping and catching up with old times.
I remember the young ladies would make the Hinompuka or Linompuka which is a cake made from glutinous rice flour and wrapped in leaves then boiled or steamed. I remember helping in the wrapping and couldn’t wait for it to be cooked. The younger kids would be the happiest as they get to run wild in the compound, playing, laughing, screaming even fighting as what children do and no one would really be reprimanded.
I remember the young ladies would make the Hinompuka or Linompuka which is a cake made from glutinous rice flour and wrapped in leaves then boiled or steamed. I remember helping in the wrapping and couldn’t wait for it to be cooked. The younger kids would be the happiest as they get to run wild in the compound, playing, laughing, screaming even fighting as what children do and no one would really be reprimanded.
The evening of Christmas Eve would also see us going for the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass and on Christmas Day at the nearby Church. Singing Christmas carol at the top of our voice and yes, with our finest dresses! Then back to the house for the big meal, more laughter and not a little noise.
We would stay at my grandmother’s house for a couple of days after Christmas Day and all too soon, it would be goodbyes and would again begin our journey back to our respective homes, a little sad. My grandmother’s house, I imagine would be sadder, as it would be back to the quiet moments, until another occasion. Ahh.. those were the days..
My Christmas dress this year? A recycled one..a nice hardly used dress.
A sketch of a typical Kadazan village house -
drawn by my son, Lionel.
My Christmas dress this year? A recycled one..a nice hardly used dress.
Wishing everyone a Blessed and a Merry Christmas….and BE SAFE!!
Cheers.
Angie I take this opportunity to wish you A Merry Xmas and A Happy Née Year. Keep smiling always. My Thoughts of Christmas icorrect me if
ReplyDeleteI am wrong, maaf ya.....camni... CHRISTMAS is ...Tenderness for the
past, courage for the present, hope
for the future , It's a fervent wish that
every cup be overflow with blessings
rich and eternal, and that every path
may lead to peace,. God Bless from AL.
Hi Al, thank you for that lovely message and yes, your thoughts and wishes for Christmas is absolutely correct. Love the way you put in the words, almost poetic and so meaningful too.
DeleteMay I wish you the same, Seasons' Greetings to you and your loved ones.
God bless..
Merry Christmas to you.
ReplyDeleteI especially like the village house. Your son has the potential.
I never celebrate Christmas, but everything will be the same if Chinese New Year is to replace Christmas in your post.
Though my family never has a paddy field,
Season's Greetings to you rainfield and thanks for your message.
ReplyDeleteThat village house is quite typical except for the windows.. My son does draw quite well haha..but only does when he is in the mood. So many times, he will sketch a person's image and we would hear the delighted squeals of laughter from the owner's face when the drawing is completed.... haha..
Sadly, the paddy field has now turn into a barren grassland.. none of us keen to be farmers hahaha.. the good old days were good but it was a hard life.
Hi Angie, Merry Christmas to you and all at home. Have a wonderful holiday.
ReplyDeleteThose were the good old days, thanks for sharing your lovely memories.
With hugs to you.
Hi Amelia, A blessed Christmas to you and your loved ones too. May you have a fantastic holiday with friends and family.Ahh yes, those were the days, a stark different from present times.
DeleteTake care and hugs to you.
Hi Angie, ahhhh, at last managed to get in! Tried certain tricks, didn't work.
ReplyDeleteI love this posting, and your kinds of Christmas, Kadazan way.
Holy Smoke! You experienced harvesting padi? You sure had a good mom with a sense of humour too. Your mom and dad looks a handsome couple. I guess not you took the pic, ha ha.
Those dresses for Christmas are really cute, but only in Kadazan land. Wear them where we are and you'll learn first hand about having blue and red legs.
Here's wishing you and family the very best of seasons greetings.
Have fun,
Lee.
Hi Lee, yes I was experiencing some problems with my blog especially the pop up advertisement which can be very irritating. It also keep me from making any update on the layout. I made some inquiries, did some deletion/cleansing of some gadget.. and it worked like magic. I hope it doesn't happen again.
DeleteOh yes, most Kadazans in those days right until the 1970s would have experienced some form of activities in the padi field. Kadazans were predominantly farmers after all. Now, most have progressed and we have many who have turned into successful businessman, politicians, heads of government agencies and others are professionals like lawyers, doctors, architects, engineers etc . So upon passing away of a generation, some of the padi fields are left barren and neglected. Some have ventured into commercialising the padi cultivation of course and so padi are no longer harvested by hand..but by machine.
Sadly, most of the padi fields have now become concrete jungles...and on it mega buildlings, shopping complex, housing estate..and so some Kadazan children nowadays have never step foot on any padi fields or even seen a sickle which we used to harvest padi...haha.. oh well the price for development.
Wishing you and loved ones, a very happy new year.
Angie
Hi Angie, Happy New Year (abit late to wish you merry christmas)... your christmas dress remind me of my own chinese new year clothes when young. My mun also buy those floral material by the yards, my sister and I , five of us, do re mi fa so... wearing identical dress. huh.. those were the days.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice holiday and stay beautiful
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl, yes those were those days...when even the simplest thing could make us happy and put a smile in our face.
DeleteDifficult times, but I guess most people in those days except for those 'haves' experienced what we had experienced. But I am glad I did experience those as it makes me appreciate more what I have today, not rich but at least we can afford to buy for our kids a decent dress..hahaha...
Have a lovely new year, may this new year brings more success and with it, peace and joy to you.
Angie