8 Signs of Christmas

Ok this will be my second list of 8's and allow me to be consistent with my following observations that Christmas is indeed fast approaching.
1) BER - definitely once the last part of the months' name turned to BER, it's definitely Christmas. Everybody would perhaps be doing a lot of reservations for their Christmas parties as well, we simply have to be prompt or else we might run out of alternatives where to held our festive corporate function.
2) Cold - Literally there will be a series of rains, floods and anything that we can associate with coldness. In a tropical climate such as our country, the months near Christmas is actually the start of rainy season so anywhere you go you can expect raincoats, umbrellas, and jackets to be on sale. Figuratively, people will try to overcome coldness by doing the next in our list.
3) Unexpected call, invitations or just people getting in touch - Do you still remember when was the last time you talked or even received a text message from your friend/s? When all occasions, only during Christmas when you can really expect to clog your inbox message. You would also find to have a difficulty of reaching them by call since a lot of people are doing this, especially during Christmas eve. Observe that every Holidays, text messages can be expected to be received with delay and this is very often during Christmas and New Year. I guess this is also the time for our "frienemies" (friend and enemies at the same time or by season) or estranged someone to actually confront us and would try to rekindle the good relationship we have with them.
4) Christmas Sale - 50% to even to an unbelievable freebie are spreading like spilled water in the malls. Posters, banners, tv ads, and many more are depicting big savings and attracts you to immediately consume your 15-day hardwork to an hour of shopping spree. Then probably too late for us to realize that we still have another 15 days to live.
3) Christmas lights - when during ordinary days where some streets in Manila could be so dark, this Holiday probably be a way for us to assist our government in lighting our areas. Also a reason that may sometimes be over-dramatically applied by some of us who almost would like to appear their homes as if it were a giant bulb!
2) Christmas songs / albums - I am one of those who collects Christmas album because one thing is for sure, it will always be a pop music during Christmas. Even our old folks can perhaps be proud to put Nat King Cole or late singers into play in our surround and base sound systems and we can't complain because that's the way Christmas songs are. Also from local to international music, we can expect our favorite performers to have their own version of "Oh Holy Night", "Joy to the World", and many more.
1) The moment we see Christmas hams, fruit cakes or just even a witness of long lines in the grocery stores, definitely people are preparing for their Noche Buena or Christmas Dinner. Also the moment we become conscious that some of our favorite foods are becoming expensive, it's really one occasion we cannot just pass by without being guilty of gluttony!

So here are the signs we are probably seeing right now as we have few days to go before Christmas. I have stated things that are really obvious and which all of us can actually relate well but I just hope that amidst our hectic preparation of making this Holiday Season truly a success, always remember that Christmas is not about how much we can spend in terms of monetary value but the real essence is how we can truly identify to the real meaning of Christmas and that's the birth of Jesus and for who we should pay the best tribute of all. Philippines is indeed one country who celebrates Christmas probably the longest. We are also good Church goers for we even come to hear the Rooster's Mass or Misa de Gallo. I believe that this is really the real sign of Christmas where people are becoming kinder, happier and truly a Believer!