Christmas is too special an occasion to be far from loved ones. But for Ballet Manila’s dancers who come from other countries, memories of holidays past with family and friends sustain them through this season while based in the Philippines. Nanami Hasegawa, Akari Ida, Sayaka Ishibashi and Kotomi Narai of Japan, Eva Chatal of Portugal, Xiu Ling Tan of Malaysia and Australia, and Abigail Oliveiro of Australia share stories of  traditions observed, decorations made and food prepared in their respective homes at this time of the year – showing how, though they may be away, Christmas remains in their hearts.

Nanami Hasegawa, company artist

On the first week of December, we pull out the big Christmas tree from the box and decorate it! I remember it was always the exciting part of Christmas since we go out to buy new ornaments for the tree to make it look different every year. My mom also makes a Christmas wreath that goes on the door and every time I come home, I feel it’s finally the time of Christmas.

My Christmas was never complete without watching Hong Kong Ballet’s Nutcracker show (when we were based in Hong Kong)! 

We usually eat at home and we request our mom what we want for that day. My siblings always ask for sushi so we had sushi party alongside the turkey. And of course, there’s a cake for dessert! We didn’t exchange gifts but kids receive presents from “Santa”. I was always walking towards the Christmas tree with an excitement on Christmas morning where our presents were!

Akari Ida, company artist

Christmas in Japan is not considered a religious event. It is more like a festivity for children and couples. For me, Christmas is a precious time to spend with my family.

My family celebrates this event with a Christmas tree. We put up the Christmas decorations (ornaments, lights, ribbons and tinsel, etc.) and my mother makes a Christmas wreath for the entrance of our house. 

We also have a special dinner with food like fried chicken and a Christmas cake. My mom usually prepares potato salad and a sushi cake.

Children are usually given some Christmas presents. When I was little, I was really excited to look under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. I was like “Santa Claus came to me!”

Sayaka Ishibashi, company artist

I do celebrate Christmas with my family and I think nowadays most Japanese celebrate it. In our house, we normally have a big dinner on Christmas Day. We normally have sushi and some side dishes together. And we also bake a cake.

Also, we put up the Christmas tree when I was little but we don’t do that anymore because two of us (my sister and I) left the house so there are only my parents. 

And we do have Santa so we used to write a letter to him in advance and we got the presents in the morning of Christmas Day. I have asked Santa for cute stickers and leg warmers (ballet stuff). I also have asked for other things. Every year is different. One time, after I wrote a letter to Santa, he wrote a letter back to me! That was so surprising and made me so happy.

Kotomi Narai, company artist

Since I am not Christian, maybe it’s not as big (a celebration) as here. We put a Christmas tree in our house, have a big dinner with Christmas cake and Santa comes at midnight!

We have a lot of ornaments from Disney (like Mickey in Santa costume) because we like Disney characters. And of course, there’s a big star on top; also, we light the tree up! 

For dinner, we usually have fried or roasted chicken, pizza which we get from the store, and my mom makes side dishes. There were some years we made a cake by ourselves but we have our favorite pastry shop so normally we get Christmas cake from there. 

I’ve never seen Santa, but my sister and I always got gifts from him. When we were kids, we always wrote a letter to Santa and put it on the table with a piece of cake, and we left the window a little bit open so he can come in. When I woke up in the morning of the 25th, there would be a gift beside my pillow. Sometimes, it would be under the tree because of the size. Even after I noticed who Santa really is, I acted like I believed in his existence. So every year, I showed my parents what I got from him and my happy face (would be) saying something like, “Look! It’s really cute. I’m so happy to get this gift! Thank you, Santa!”

Eva Chatal, Ballet Manila 2

The Portuguese love nativity scenes or presépios, with pieces usually passed down from generation to generation. It contains religious figurines (Mary and Joseph, for example) as well as cultural figurines (farmers, for example). We have a small presépio in our home. We saved it from mom’s side of the family which is Portuguese. Ours has lots of animals and moss.

We always put up a Christmas tree in our home, usually in the beginning of December and take it down on the 6th of January or Dia de los Reis. We put Christmas decorations that my parents gathered from their travels around the world. On top of the tree, we put a traditional Russian topper that my dad saved from his parents. My dad’s side of the family is from Russia. A lot of the ornaments on the tree my mother bought in Germany, from when she worked in Munich. We have some Christmas balls bought in Portugal. We also place lots of lights around the house and tree. 

On the 24th, we gather all family members and have a big Christmas dinner. The most common main course is any traditional Portuguese cod dish (bacalhau) or sometimes octopus. For sweets, the most common are rabanadas or fatias douradas (French toast with a wine sauce), and sonhos, deep-fried and covered in sugar; broas de natal, which are oval sweet bread biscuits; bolo rei and rainha, bread-styled fruit cakes.

We put our gifts around the Christmas tree and open it at midnight of the 24th to the 25th. Some families open their presents on the morning of the 25th. Most parents tell their children that it was Santa Claus who dropped their gifts. We also give presents to friends and give donations to charities.

Xiu Ling Tan, Ballet Manila 2

I don’t celebrate Christmas with my family as we are Buddhist. But I celebrated Christmas with my friends when I was in Australia and actually in Malaysia too before I moved to Australia. I’ll be staying here in Manila for Christmas this year so I’m very excited and especially with all the Christmas decorations.

I love Christmas! I just love how everyone is happy and stress-free and we get to hang out together and have a good time. It’s such a precious moment!

When I was in high school, I would go out with my friends to Christmas countdown in Kuala Lumpur. There would be a free concert. Usually before the countdown, we went to the malls, walked around and had good food.

When I moved to Australia, for the first two years I worked during Christmas. But I still celebrated a bit with my close colleagues. We went out for food, walked around the city of Melbourne as it’s very beautifully decorated during the Christmas season! 

It’s always about food for Christmas as well as Kris Kringle! Well, that’s when you have a good excuse to have a lot of good food! There was one year before we left for Europe for ballet auditions, we spent a great Christmas at our director’s home. They hired someone to do the barbecue and we had a lot of amazing food like cheese platter, ham, salad and ice cream. The rest I usually go out with friends and explore the city. We go to the garden for picnic and there are always events going on in Melbourne during the Christmas season. There will be like a food truck event with all sorts of food. 

Myer, the biggest store on Bourke Street, would have a different Christmas theme for their window display every year. And Melbourne Town Hall would have light display on the surface of the building with music playing every hour which is very beautiful and it really lights up the city and people’s hearts.

Abigail Oliveiro, principal dancer

An Oliveiro Christmas definitely revolves around food! Devil’s Curry (Eurasian cuisine) is a staple in our household during Christmas time and it’s my favorite dish. I always look forward to my parents cooking it and I think that’s what I miss most about Christmas at home. Aside from my family, of course. It’s based around a chicken curry, I think! It’s spicy. My favorite bit is THE SAUCE! And then the potato (and sausages, back when I wasn’t a vegetarian). The way you eat it is with bread. Definitely best with bread. So good. My mouth is watering describing it. I definitely miss my dad’s Devil’s Curry. Whenever I do get to go home, I make sure to make a special request for my favorite Christmas dish.

Christmas time is an intimate time for us. I’ve been away from home for several Christmases. I’d say for over eight years, but till this day, I still enjoy an intimate Christmas time at home. Wherever my home is at the time.

But I have really been away for maaaany, many many Christmases. And all the reasons I’ve been away for is for dance. One hundred percent. So dancing during Christmas time wasn’t new to me at Ballet Manila. I’ve never danced during Christmas until BM but I have always been preparing or travelling during that period to dance or for auditions. So in a way, dancing makes my Christmas too!