Starting A Tradition

Mike and Pia planned to celebrate Christmas this year by starting their family's Christmas tradition. Tradition however is easier to establish with tangible symbols.  So they chose three things that would help them to pass on the Christmas spirit to their children.

They already have two of the three ready: a Christmas tree and a parol.  Now they needed the last and most important of all.

The Belen.

Since Mike still hasn't "found" the Belen for their little family, Mike and Pia had to make do with some borrowed Belen figurines, at least for this year.

A "belen" is another traditional Filipino Christmas symbol.
Its a creche or tableau representing the Nativity scene.
Derived from the Spanish name for the town of Bethlehem, Belén,
it depicts the infant Jesus Christ in the manger,
surrounded by the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the shepherds, their flock,
the Magi and some stable animals and angels.