Sleigh Bells and Silver Bells and Jingle Bells (Or How We Translated Christmas One Balmy Colonial Night Many Years Ago)

To be honest I have not seen a sleigh bell and the only silver bell I have seen was in an antique shop, away from anything Christmasy. But I promise you when I sing "Sleigh bells ring, are you listening," I will have the fervor to own that old carol, Winter Wonderland.

And how can we forget our attempts to raise money through those cold nights as we blared: Washing trodasno/Enawarhorse openslay/Or the pelds we go/Lafing aldeway?" Somehow, we always made it through that "laughing all the way." Somehow, Christmas, to a child, is laughing all the way and it does not matter where those tiny feet brings him. "Jingle Bells" is reputedly the most popular Christmas song although originally the piece was composed by a church minister for Thanksgiving somewhere in Boston.

From Boston to the many barangays here is a mighty distance. This could be why this most popular song is also the most mysterious carol in this island. The first few lines are okay and the rumpus brought about by the ringing of bells never fails any generation of child-singers, until one gets to the other lines and all heaven breaks loose with this rendition: Belts on bobels ring/Makingspirits rayt/Oh wat pan in the restawran/And slaying songs tonayt.

Colonialism and conversion can turn us off when seen in the domain of governments and societies. But the same forces can be quite charming and enticing like a well frosted cake when viewed through those soft but not harmless territories of music.

Who can ever imagine that we would be putting up Christmas trees without bothering to look into the reasons for doing so?

The Spanish colonial administration, it is said, introduced a celebration that was closer to the narrative of that enchanting birth in the manger. The decision was fueled by the colonizer's aim of hiding behind religion the motive of occupation. The "crèche" (old French for "crib") was introduced and soon the imagination of Filipinos has transformed the depiction of the Birth of Christ, as told by Luke and Matthew, into varied interpretations and distortions. Or, have you forgotten those Belen Contests when you were in school? In my memory, I have seen the Three Kings riding motorcycle.