Personal Encounters: Ber Months Are Here! Christmas Countdown Begins! Prepare Now!

It's only days away from the BER months which means Christmas is almost here! Did you know that the Philippines celebrate the longest Christmas in the world starting form September to March of the following year? It's the biggest feast in our predominantly Catholic country that even non-Christians and also non-believers couldn't help but take part in the joyful and long celebration.

Christmas carols could be heard airing on mainstream as early as September! I always look forward to the first Christmas song I will hear for each year, last year it was "The Christmas Song." Yes, that's the correct title of the Nat King Cole Original... you know... "Chesnuts roasting on an open fi-er, jack frost nipping on your nose..." *lalala....♩♪♫♬*

Christmas is about love, hope and faith which were symbolized by the gifts given on the birth of Christ in the manger. The Three Kings honored the baby Jesus with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Thus, we now have the traditional Christmas gift-giving which is practiced all over the world and very much alive in the Philippine culture.

"Bah, humbug!" - Mr. Scrooge

Since almost everyone, except the relatives of Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge, is expected to participate in the gift-giving season, it will be wise to plan ahead and start early with your shopping. September would be a good month to start preparing.

Early Christmas Shopping Top 3 Reasons:

Here are the top 3 reasons why you should seriously consider an early Christmas shopping...

1. Almost all prices are expected to go up during the Christmas Season due to higher demand. So, if you also plan to dress up your Christmas tree and change the motif of last year's Christmas decoration, it's advisable to buy the decors months earlier.

1955 Christmas Rush

2010 Christmas Rush

2. Same old, same old! Shopping during the high peak Christmas season will surely stress you out with so many shoppers swarming the malls, it could trigger panic attacks even to those not suffering from ochlophobia! Also, expect long lines at the cashiers that will definitely put your patience and endurance to test.

Normal Manila Traffic

Manila Christmas Traffic

3. Traffic jam and lack of parking slots during the Christmas rush will make you want to cry! A four-hour-wait for a slot in the car park is usual during this season, so blow your horn but not your top! If you think that public transport would be the solution, think again!

Here are 5 tips to plan your Christmas gift shopping:

1. Make the Christmas Gift Recipient List

Start with your immediate family members and close relatives, then your close friends. You may want to extend the spirit of giving to your colleagues and of course your staff and workers. Allot at least 5-10 extra slots in case you missed anyone or you acquire new friends before Christmas.

If you are so rich ... with family and friends, be warned that a very long list can cause a serious holiday bankruptcy! So you may want to limit your list to those whom you really care about.

2. Choose the best gift for each name on the list

It should be something personally picked by you because you know that it would be appreciated by the receiver. Avoid giving gifts that you would like to receive yourself, remember it is not about you. It's about knowing your loved ones and caring about their passions.

3. Set the budget for each gift item

If Dad is on your list and Dad is passionate about cars but you do not have the budget to buy him a new one or even a car accessory, then think of something else that he could appreciate to suit your budget. He might be into gardening, so buy him a new garden hose instead. If it still does not fit the budget, get him some seedlings. After all, it's always the thought that counts!

4. Group the gift items

Breakdown your list into groups so that it will save you more time in shopping. You may classify your gifts into Men, Women and Children to decide the best place to shop where you can find all the things you need to buy in one place, if possible. If not, you can schedule a series of shopping for each group classification.

5. Personalize

Since you have more time in your hands because you started your Christmas shopping earlier, you can personalize your gifts to make it more special and meaningful. You can hand write your holiday greetings and wishes and also do the gift wrapping yourself!

If you want it to be really personal, you can make your own gifts by doing arts and crafts! I already started mine and will make more! I plan to give it on top of the gifts I will buy. Take a look at my finished handmade rosaries, I will have them blessed before giving away to loved ones. I personally chose the colors and materials to suit each recipient's personality.