festive lights

While the custom of decoration a Christmas tree is a relatively recent phenomenon, the celebration of Christmas is old. 

The festival at Christmas time was known in the most ancient Mysteries of all religions everywhere and has always been celebrated. It is not merely an outer sun festival, but one that leads man to a divination of the sources of existence. 

Signs & Symbols of the Christmas Festival

It was celebrated annually by the highest initiates in the Mysteries at the time of year - when the sun's force was weakest and bestowed the least warmth upon the earth. 

An ever-flowing river of love weaves through all generations. At times we may need to dive deep beneath to find it. Trust that when all else fades and is gone - love remains. 

Christmas at Coal Drops Yard, London

Winter falls on London, with blistering winds, early sunsets, and grey days. But the city lights up everywhere for the holiday season, chasing away the chilly gloom with cheery decor, warm drinks, and of course the famous Christmas markets.

Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross

Holiday sparkle

The holiday season in London has become a festival of lights. The Christmas lights in Regent Street and Piccadilly are special tourist attractions, with their Spirit of Christmas theme.

Regent Street's Spirit of Christmas

holiday countdown

Contrary to popular belief, the theory that the lyrics to “The 12 Days of Christmas” are coded references to Christianity, has been debunked. 

While it posits that the song was written to help Christians learn and pass on the tenets of their faith while avoiding persecution - the song really isn't a coded primer on Christianity. 

celebrating online, 2020

Forever the irreverent resisters, wonder | wander | women created our own version this year to celebrate our reunion Stateside - finally, COVID be damned! The Countdown begins. . . .now. 

Pentatonix version of 12 Days of Xmas

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me. . . .a partridge in a pear tree.

The partridge in a pear tree of course represents Mahala - only and fave spawn of Issa. Whose arrival Stateside is the best Christmas gift for us both.

Season's greetings, social distance style!

Like many other people who celebrate Christmas, wonder | wander | women changed plans this year to celebrate at home. Like many other Filipinos, we're used to spending the holidays away from our families, and have our own long-distance traditions. 

My favourite window: sun in the daytime, Christmas lights at night

Happy Christmas 2020

Last week our alpha sibling sent us a NatGeo article on the history behind the holiday tradition of Christmas trees. 

The Rockefeller Tree had a stowaway owl this year

wonder | wander | women agree it's a strange tradition and we adore it anyway. Every December, people in regions around the world head to the nearest forest, chop down a tree, drag it into their homes, adorn it with lights, baubles, and tinsel—then unceremoniously drag it to the curb in January.

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!!! This Christmas we greeted faraway families and celebrated with friends as the winter got chillier than ever.

Photo by Jamie Kurihara

Christmas lights at the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens

It's always a whirlwind when the family comes to town. In this case we had some relatives briefly staying in Edinburgh before going home to the Philippines for Christmas, and we came up to see the sights with them for a weekend. And luckily it was Christmas at the Botanics!

Madame Tussauds: dream dates

There's a strong flavour of fantasy in any big Christmas celebration. We build little rustic villages covered with fake snow and pine branches, we string 'fairy lights' and sparkly paper around.

holidays with friends

This year in London was all about partying with friends! Having family a Skype or Facebook call away eases some of the loneliness of living overseas, but having friends living in the same city means that the holidays don't have to be lonely at all.

Happy Holidays!

Some friends in the more suburban reaches of Greater London invited us for a glorious Christmas weekend. We spent three days in the company of dear friends and revelled in eating, drinking, playing 'auntie' to our friends' children, and enjoying time with people we love but don't seem to see often enough.

Picture courtesy of Jamie Kurihara, via Facebook

festive feasts

Keeping to our December theme of food and celebration wonder | wander | women had our final family get together at the end of Hanukkah before flying off to different parts to celebrate Christmas separately this year.

On December 12 we came together for dinner on the eve before the last day of Hanukkah. For a day that started out blanketed in a thick soupy fog, by the time we went out for a five mile walk in the early afternoon it had thinned enough for us to capture some of these beautiful images.

Christmas Party at the Natural History Museum!

Back when wonder | wander | women visited the American Museum of Natural History in New York, we thought nothing could match the joy of such a visit (read about it here!). This year, one thing may have come close: a grand private party in the Natural History Museum in London.

season's greetings

Greetings and blessings this holiday season...

...from us and ours at wonder | wander | women ...

...to you and yours.

NYC - a beautiful life!

For those of us who grew up with the songs of Carole King, watching the musical Beautiful is an immersion back to the days we first heard each of these anthems. 

Stephen Sondheim Theater Marquee