THE Christmas season or Christmastide,reckoned from Christmas Day, December 25, to the Epiphany or the Feast of the Three Kings, January 6,brings all people together in many ways. Commemorating the birth of Jesus, “the central figure of Christianity,” Christmas is a Christian holiday, nonetheless widely celebrated by non-Christians.There are celebratory Christmas customs of other countries similar to ours; there are also unique ones. Popular are gift-giving, Christmas music, Christmas cards, the legendary Santa Claus who bring gifts especially to children, Christmas trees and the nativity scenes set up in homes, schools and public places, church celebrations as in the advent or midnight masses andChristmas meals which in the Philippines is the lechon, hamon and queso de bola.