merry christmas

I've just got back from a short vacation in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam in the late afternoon. It was tiring although the flight took less than two hours to return to our homeland. Again, we had nothing Christmas-y (except for Instagram photos from Japanese users I've followed -I liked almost everyone of them instantaneously as if liking them can fill in the emptiness for not being in a place surrounded with the Christmas atmosphere).

Christmas seems to be my favourite holiday besides the Chinese New Year. I'm a Christian, but I rarely go to the church and never studied the Bible, thanks to my dad's influence.
My dad once asked me, "Where is the God?" and I used to answer that He is in the clouds. As I grew up and learned about science, he asked me the same question. I hesitated and understood why. He is with me all the time, in my mind (sometimes I call "it in my heart" but it's impossible) as a strong figure to keep me calm all the time and give me the courage to overcome adversities. I don't call myself kind since I know myself quite well: sometimes, I act kind to other people because I need them, and that's the only reason mfro me to pray to Him.

Despite being a not-so-sincere-Christian, I really love Christmas. I remember when I was much younger (around 4~6 years old) I used to go to the church in my hometown by a van on Sundays. When we moved to the city, my parents did not bring us to the church there, and therefore I slowly abandoned this habit. Going to the church in my hometown became a painful experience as we only go there during the school holidays. The volunteers (as a child I called them teachers) always forgot about me, my face, everything. I have always been a newcomer to them and other children in the church. That's why I only went there a few times with my aunt on Sundays and visit there on special festivals such as CNY and Christmas after I entered secondary school.

Christmas carols. A group of people dressed in white will come to your house at midnight, play musical instruments, sing songs and pray for our family. The Santa will give the children a pack of snacks and we get really happy. One of my favourite things to do would be arranging the food (mostly cakes) and drinks in some geometrical patterns before they reach. It wasn't something really great but a tradition for the villagers.

I'm not very sure what to type anymore. I have not celebrated Christmas with my grandparents since the last few years as my family and I have been traveling overseas during that period of time.
In my opinion it wasn't something bad to change. At least it suits you more.

Have a merry Christmas!
Love,
Winnie