When someone asks me what my favorite holiday is, my instinctive answer used to be Thanksgiving. And for a long time, it truly was. My first Thanksgiving in America holds a special place in my heart—not just because of the turkey, cranberry sauce, and sweet potatoes (which I still question if they really were sweet potatoes), but because it marked my first major holiday experience in a new country.

Back in the Philippines, we didn’t eat turkey. In fact, turkeys were more like quirky neighborhood pets than meals. I remember watching kids being chased by a neighbor’s turkey and thinking it was the funniest thing. So when I first encountered turkey on a dinner plate in the U.S., I was… let’s say, hesitant. But I tried it anyway—with a bit of cranberry sauce and stuffing—and quietly absorbed all the newness around me. It was also the first time I met some of my stepmom’s relatives. I was shy, quiet, and still adjusting to everything: the culture, the food, and even the way holidays were celebrated here. That night, after dinner and a movie with the family, I remember thinking, “This is it?” It was quieter than the festive holiday gatherings I knew back home. But over time, I learned to appreciate the depth of American Thanksgiving—the gratitude, the family time, and the simplicity of it all.

Still, no matter how much I love Thanksgiving, something changed along the way. Or rather, someone changed it.

After my daughter was born, Christmas slowly but surely became my favorite holiday. There’s something incredibly magical about seeing the season through her eyes. I look forward to shopping for her gifts every year with excitement, picking out things I know she’ll love—and a few surprises she doesn’t even know she wants yet. I might even be more excited than she is when it comes time to open presents!

She’s gone through so many phases: Peppa Pig, Play-Doh, Octonauts, LOL Surprise, Squishmallows… and now, she’s blossoming into this amazing little artist who loves to draw expressive characters completely from memory. She’s not big on Disney or princesses, but give her a sea creature documentary or anything cat-related and she’s hooked.

Even decorating for Christmas has become a family tradition we love. My daughter always gets to place the star on top of our tree while BTS and Christmas songs play in the background. Our fur baby (yes, our cat!) sometimes joins in—depending on her mood, of course—for the family photos we always take once the tree is lit. And the sweetest thing? Every year after we decorate, our cat loves relaxing under the tree. She’ll either curl up and sleep beneath it or sit quietly facing it, just admiring all the twinkling lights. It’s honestly the cutest thing.

Beyond the presents and the decorations, what makes Christmas even more special to us is that it’s the day we celebrate the birth of our Creator. That deeper meaning fills the season with a sense of peace, joy, and reflection—a reminder of love, grace, and the true spirit of giving.

So yes—Thanksgiving gave me my first taste of belonging in a new place. But Christmas? Christmas gave me memories I’ll cherish forever. It’s the season where joy overflows in our home, where laughter echoes through BTS’s remix of “Jingle Bell Rock,” and where the heart of the celebration is watching my daughter experience it all with wonder.

And that, without a doubt, makes Christmas my true favorite holiday.