As we count down the days until Christmas, many of us are already excited to return to our hometowns to celebrate with family and friends. After all, this is one of those times when everyone gathers to share gifts, food, and stories. For us Filipinos, Christmas is a family reunion.

However, some of us don’t have the privilege of going home. With the current state of our economy—prices rising and expenses piling up—some choose to keep working for the extra income, while others simply don’t have the financial means to travel back to their families.

In a season when everyone seems to be surrounded by loved ones, spending Christmas Eve alone can feel lonely—especially when we are often taught that solitude is the same as loneliness. But as a self-proclaimed solo dweller, I want to offer a different perspective.

Solitude is not loneliness.

There is beauty in spending the holidays in the quiet comfort of our own company. It is quiet, yes but it can still be blissful.

For those spending Christmas Eve alone, here are a few activities that can make the night feel meaningful and worthwhile:

1. Do the Achievement Cake Trend

I first saw this on TikTok, where friends gather to stick their achievements onto a cake. While it’s fun to do with others, acknowledging your wins on your own can be just as meaningful. It reinforces how strong and resilient you’ve been throughout the year.

Prepare a small cake or cupcake, write your achievements—big or small—on paper, tape them onto sticks, and place them on the cake. You can even record yourself reading them one by one as a reminder of how amazing you truly are.

2. Bake Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies are the epitome of Christmas treats. While they’re not traditionally Filipino, they carry the sweetness and warmth of the season and make the night feel extra special.

Here’s an easy gingerbread cookie recipe courtesy of ChatGPT 😉:

🍪 Simple Air Fryer Gingerbread (Small Batch)
Ingredients:
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup brown sugar (muscovado works great)
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• A pinch of salt
• 2 tbsp butter, melted
• 2 tbsp molasses
  – If no molasses: use 2 tbsp honey + 1 tsp brown sugar
• 2 tbsp milk
• ½ tsp vanilla (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix dry ingredients
   In a bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
2. Add wet ingredients
   Add melted butter, molasses (or substitute), milk, and vanilla. Mix until a soft dough forms. If it’s too dry, add milk one teaspoon at a time.
3. Shape
   Roll into small balls and flatten slightly, or roll the dough flat and cut out shapes.
4. Air fry
   Preheat the air fryer to 160°C. Line the basket with parchment paper and air fry for 6–8 minutes. The cookies will be soft when hot and firm up as they cool.
5. Cool and enjoy 🤍

3. Do a Christmas Movie Marathon

If there’s one thing I always do during Christmas, it’s watching my favorite holiday movies. It never fails to get me into the spirit—giggling over Love Hard (a new favorite), laughing at the Home Alone series, and crying over Puso ng Pasko, my all-time favorite Filipino Christmas classic.

So put on your favorite PJs, light some scented candles, prepare your gingerbread cookies, and allow yourself to laugh and cry freely.

4. Review (or Make) a Vision Board

If you’ve made a vision board before, Christmas Eve is a perfect time to review it and reflect on how far you’ve come. If you’re new to it, here’s a simple way to start:
• Gather photos that represent what you want to achieve next year or in the future.
• Create a collage using Canva or Photoshop (if you’re old school like me).

A vision board is a sure-fire way to remind yourself that you’re not being left behind.

5. Have a Self-Photoshoot with Your Dog

If you have a dog, dress them up as an elf or Santa and dress up yourself, too. Create a DIY Christmas card or backdrop using gift wrappers or decorations. It’s easy, fun, and surprisingly comforting.

6. Honor Your Feelings

If spending Christmas Eve alone genuinely makes you feel sad, you don’t have to mask it or pretend otherwise. Honor it. Sit with it. We are all allowed to feel sadness—even on Christmas.

Being alone on Christmas can be hard, but it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it. It’s okay to celebrate on your own and find joy in small, personal ways.

Again, solitude is not loneliness.

If you’re alone this Christmas Eve, allow yourself to have fun in your own quiet way.

And may we all feel the spirit of Christmas in ways that truly meet us where we are.

Merry Christmas, Stranger! 🎄✨