Christmas Traditions, Or The Lack Thereof: A Glimpse of Christmases in Dubai Over The Years

In my three decades of life, I have spent more Christmases in Dubai, my proverbial land of promise, than I have in the Philippines, the land of my birth. In some years, there were big family dinners and carolers knocking at our door; in some years, there were small family dinners made noisy by impromptu games; in some years, Christmas dinner consisted of pizza and cake. In most years, counting down to midnight on Christmas Eve was spent virtually on whatever video-calling application was working well. Technically we would be counting down to 8:00PM UAE time, as that would be midnight, Philippine time.

That was perhaps the only Christmas tradition I religiously kept - the video call a few minutes before 8:00 PM on December 24. Perhaps not even that religiously, as in the few years that my parents would be visiting Dubai during Christmas, that particular tradition would not be needed. Growing up as a third-culture kid, I never placed high importance on traditions. This worked to my heart’s advantage, especially during Christmas time, and most especially on the Christmases that were celebrated with only pizza and cake. The lack of tradition in how I spent most Christmases never caused any emotional distress.

Dubai, over the years, has actually built traditions around what it calls “The Festive Season”. The exact year that huge Christmas trees first sprung up inside many of Dubai’s shopping centers escapes my memory, but I remember being pleasantly surprised to see people of different faiths (evidenced by their outfits) happily taking photos with the beautifully decorated trees. Christmas markets have become regular attractions whenever the season rolls in. Some of the bigger supermarket chains would be importing fresh pine trees from Europe and frozen lechon from Brazil, and stocking more turkey and ingredients for stuffing to cater to the many Christmas parties happening all December across the emirate. Hotels and restaurants would be coming up with “festive packages” for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Many establishments across the emirate would have interiors decked with boughs of holly and all the Christmas trimmings one can imagine. As with anything else it puts its hands on, Dubai can do Christmas properly and extravagantly.

Filipinos living in Dubai bring as much of the Pinoy Christmas as they can. One of the most important contact numbers one can have during the season is that of the kabayan who makes the best tasting lechon. A district that houses much of the city’s Filipino population has a night market where one can get bibingka and puto bumbong. Those that run in more than one social circle would find their calendars filled with Christmas lunches or dinners. In contrast, there are also those who would be spending the entire season as frugally as possible to be able to send as much extra money as possible back home. Christmas meals fall in the spectrum of a Chickenjoy value meal to a full holiday spread.

For a Christian living in Dubai, one of the best things that the emirate offers is the freedom to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, no matter how simple or fancy that celebration can be. We can celebrate Jesus freely, whether in church or in our homes. Christmas services abound in the many churches present in the city. It is indeed a privilege to be able to worship to our hearts’ content, even in a country that follows a different faith.

I’ve spent more Christmases in Dubai than I have in the Philippines. The traditions that I have witnessed all these years are different, or at least practiced differently. However, I’ve learned that more than the festivities, the one important tradition to have during Christmas, wherever or however one finds oneself celebrating it, is the true worship of Jesus Christ. Acknowledging Him, singing songs to Him, praising Him, thanking Him, loving Him - in any language, in any setting. Christmas, more than anything, is a celebration of our King who came to save us, even defying all tradition and norms when He did.