Even prior to the pandemic, my family has always practiced curtailed Christmas and New Year celebrations. The desire to cut back on the holiday hype likely stemmed from us being working parents, and Josh’s side of the family being big on gift exchanges and excursions. This hype is what creates holiday chaos. He used to run so much errands during this season—driving out of town or picking up and dropping off relatives. Sure, he loved spending time with them growing up, and I respect the way they kept the family tradition alive. But there came a point when all the holidays did was leave my husband feeling drained. I guess it all started when our housekeeper left. I was forced to navigate the kitchen and take charge of cooking especially during the holidays. As I became more hands-on with preparing our meals, I realized that simplifying our celebrations not only made life more practical but also brought us closer as a family. Josh, AK, and Knight all pitch in with their ‘holiday duties’, which is mostly picking up after me because, let’s face it—cooking can be a disaster. This team effort allowed me to focus on what mattered most: serving up the true holiday spirit. The Birth Our Own Holiday Tradition Josh and I have one strict rule in our household: we don’t splurge on Christmas. And by not splurging, I mean we don’t cook, invite people over, nor attend gatherings on the 24th and 25th of December. I know it seems unorthodox considering we’re both from Catholic families. But it’s not Christmas per se that we’re trying to avoid—I personally wanted to keep it solemn by not hyperfocusing on the material aspect of the occasion. Every Christmas eve, we simply have a few nice dishes delivered, and spend the rest of the evening being present in the moment. We’d vote on movies to binge-watch, play board games or do karaoke. We want this night to be just about us. On New Year’s Eve, we’d be busy (without overdoing it) cooking and organizing. This is also when when Josh and I would go a little extra with the preparation. We’d still have some movies and board games prepared, but we also allow the kids to play until past midnight with some neighborhood friends. It’s when you stop stressing over the details that the night truly feels special. Last year, I cooked only the ultimate fam favorite—garlic buttered shrimp—and ordered the rest online. The beef lasagna, shrimp balls and honey mustard baby back ribs were from a good friend, Dani’s Cozina. She’s based in Caloocan (we’re from Las Piñas) but this never discouraged us from being a repeat customer because my husband and kids love her dishes. I’ve already started creating my meal plan for this year and I’m thinking of trying a couple new recipes. I consulted my mom-in-law for advice, and as always, she provided valuable insights on how to make my preparation more efficient. My Take on Holiday Gift-Giving Since I’m actively pursuing a minimalist lifestyle, I try to be more intentional with the gifts I give my loved ones, especially my children. I believe that minimalism, when incorporated into our love language, can transform the way we express gratitude and affection. I wanted to give them meaningful gifts that truly reflect their needs and personality. Not something they would only gush over for a day or two, and eventually forget. I aim to be frugal, but not cheap—there’s a huge difference between the two. I’m willing to spend generously on things, as long as they all hold value and serve a purpose. I started my Christmas shopping in September and had everything ready even before December arrived. This also gives me plenty of time to relax and avoid getting caught up in the holiday shopping frenzy. After all, less chaos leads to deeper connection As Christmas and New Year draw near, I find that deliberately avoiding the holiday chaos by simplifying our celebrations has not only lightened the load but has made the moments we share more meaningful. Through quality time, shared meals and intentional gifts, we’ve created a holiday atmosphere that is less about the chaos and more about connections—something that I want to pass on to my kids. This year, like the ones before, we’ll continue to embrace our own family tradition that is free from the pressure to conform to holiday expectations.