Well this isn’t something new maybe. I don’t know if you have already read about this topic. Here in the Philippines Christmas has a very different feel to it than what I was used to in the USA. It is true that many stores begin playing Christmas music and putting the decorations out in early September. That’s right, September. Then the decoration stay up until the second week in January it seems.
At the stores
The above photo is at SM CIty mall in Cebu City. I think what they did with the area was pretty nice. The tree is amazing, but I really liked the details in the ceiling and all the fern-like decorations. The decorations were not in just one part of the mall, they were everywhere. The music played everywhere as well. Heck, I think the music even plays outside and in the parkign garage.
I like Christmas, so none of this bothers me in the least. I am not so sure those back in USA would get it though. Too many bah humbug people there. I remember all the times I heard peole say no Christmas decoration up before Thanksgiving. Remember that? Well, we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here so I guess 1 September works as well as any other day.
In the gallery photos below are some shots of our local store. The decorations are not just at the door, they are everywhere. I like it. Oh yeah, they are outside too, along with music outside!
I can’t think of something more fun than walking through a store and singing along. It is almost like the Philippines was made for Christmas and Karaoke. I found myself singing more than once. Yes, the songs are by musicians you would recognize and they are sung in English. Heck, try out a Philippine Christmas at least once.