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.
