This year we decided we'd do Christmas Lunch early.
So we brought out the (tabletop) tree, brought out the colorful metallic balls (that used to hang on the larger tree), and placed the tree in the center of the dining table right against the wall.
From somewhere we pulled out the Merry Christmas tag and stuck it right at the back, next to all the glittery red decor, next to the little tree.
It was nice to see the tree take centerstage.
After all it has been a year since she had her place on the table.
And all was (still) well.
The tree was in our sights whilst we had Christmas Lunch.
This year- like the year before- there was the plate of siew mais bought from the supermarket which we steamed in the rice cooker.
Then we had an additional serving of steamed luncheon meat (because the expiry date was fast approaching and The Parents didn't think it ought to keep till Chinese New Year).
Besides the steamed stuff, we had little plates of favorite foods bought from the coffee shop stall downstairs- braised potatoes, stewed brinjals, omelets, chicken pieces and egg tofu.
We also had soup- with veggies, tomatoes, cuttlefish balls, beef balls, fish balls and sausage inside.
Lunch finished, we decided to do the presents, so, over the music of Christmas carols on the CD player, the card was presented and gifts were exchanged.
It may look simple, old-fashioned even, but seeing it brought back memories of how present-wrapping used to be.
There was a time when wrappers of cute pictures, colored patterns and kitschy designs were the rage.
There was also a time when every present came attached with a shiny rosette or a crafted ribbon.
But they dont' seem very much to be in vogue now.
Dried flowers, 3D stickers and little gift cards are more popular these days.
My presents, on the other hand, were wrapped in the signature color of the season- a bright, distinct red.
I guess I'm the sort who loves having the colors of gold, silver, green, red and blue everywhere during Christmas season.
Not just that, I also happily embrace all the different facets of Christmas.
Whether they be spiritual (because faith is what defines me), or they be secular (because joy and celebration is good enough a reason), I love it when both spiritual and secular be juxtaposed in a very unique way.
Friends who know my love for Christmas trees will understand why.
We split out the cookies at dinner time.
Which, by the way, was a very light one.
We had zichar hor fun with gravy, we had chicken char siew paus, there was a bowl of soup with seafood wantons, fish balls, cuttlefish balls, sausage and huge lettuce leaves, and we had guava juice to drink.
After dinner was dessert, of course.
And we had fresh bananas, cups of creamy Walls vanilla ice cream, and, yes, buttery honey Christmas cookies.