LONDON
From our family to yours TAP IMAGE TO WATCH THE VIDEO
Words by Aimee Alado-Blake Image from Disney UK
W
hen Disney released in early November its Christmas advert for 2020 -From Our Family to Yours, it spread like wildfire all over the world not only amongst the Filipino communities but transcended peoples and cultures. It speaks of universal and relevant themes of tradition, of family togetherness and nostalgia. It resonates with almost everyone as we remain restricted from spending Christmas in the usual way with family and friends due to the ongoing pandemic.
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Culture
The 3-minute short film animation features Filipino culture and tradition backed by the vocals of English singer-songwriter Sarah Faith Griffiths aka Griff with her original song entitled ‘Love is a Compass.’ The clip tells of a powerful story between a grandmother – Lola, in Filipino language and her granddaughter. It began in the 1940s Christmas in a Philippine village, showing Lola as a kid running towards her Tatay or father outside the streets of their house adorned by sparkling parols or lanterns. After she made mano to her Tatay, she received as gift a Mickey Mouse stuffed toy. Mano is an endearing gesture of respect for
one’s elders traditionally practised by Filipinos to this day. Fast forward to 2005s Christmas in the United Kingdom, Lola is showing the Mickey Mouse toy to her granddaughter and a parol kit, teaching her how to make one. This was a tradition between Lola and her granddaughter all those years until one day, the granddaughter, now a teenager, has outgrown the tradition. She preferred hanging out with friends rather than spending time to make parol with Lola. Then coming home from a night out with friends, the granddaughter saw the discarded Mickey Mouse on the floor with an ear ripped off. As she picked it up in an unlit room, her gaze
