A Bigueño Christmas

 

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Christmas, the most awaited time of the year held at December 25, is a season everyone looks forward to to celebrate, reconnect, forgive, love, hope and spend time with people who are important in ways we know how. We, Bigueño's are known to be festive and engaging in festivals or simple celebrations. When it's Christmas, expect Vigan to be filled with lights, varied display of decorations and the hustle and bustle of  Bigueño's oozing of Christmas spirit ready for the celebrations. But due to the pandemic, celebrating Christmas in the ways we know how is impossible, so, how do we, Bigueño's, celebrate Christmas amid the pandemic?

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Bigueño's celebrate Christmas for the birth of Jesus Christ, during the Christmas season, Vigan Cathedral is packed with Bigueño's attending for "Simbang gabi". But due to the pandemic, health protocols are implemented creating restraints, and because of this, alternatives and solutions have been made and thought of to adapt to the pandemic, solutions such as hosting a live mass so Bigueño's could still attend the mass safely and comfortably in their own homes. Aside from attending "Simbang gabi" Bigueño's also awaits for Vigan's annual Christmas trees displayed at the Vigan City hall and the Ilocos Sur Capitol. Around this time of the year, the capitol and the city hall becomes the must "go to" places in Vigan.

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Bigueño's celebrate Christmas in each of our own special ways. Though we are all looking forward to that large family gathering and going out and about for Christmas, we should all be encouraged to stay home, host small intimate gatherings or host online gatherings, and follow safety and health protocols. Christmas amid the pandemic gave Bigueño's new found hope and love for a better year ahead. Though, celebrating Christmas is not the same anymore, we, Bigueño's could still have a  Bigueño Christmas even amid the pandemic.