In San Jose, California, a Fil-Am artist’s mural lights up a longstanding Christmas tradition
Photo from christmasinthepark.com
In the Philippines, the spirit of Christmas permeates the air long before December, as the entire nation starts playing carols and decorating houses as early as September. This is a tradition that transcends borders and resonates across the world.
And speaking of customs, there’s one Christmas event that San Jose, California has cherished for 44 years. And guess what? It’s undergoing a transformation with the addition of new murals, infusing cultural relevance into the celebration and breathing new life into the lineup of festivities.
Filipina-American artist Alyssarhaye Graciano, who, alongside fellow San Jose artists, contributes to this burst of cultural diversity where they spent weeks painting a series of murals.
The murals are set to be the focal points for the 800,000 expected attendees during the event, which spans from the grand opening on Friday, Nov. 24 to its conclusion on Jan. 1.
“I think with the addition of these new murals and how everything else has been revitalized, Christmas in the Park is really going to have new life this year,” said Graciano in an interview with NBC Bay Area.
The Fil-Am artist, deeply connected to the tradition through years of attending with her family, designed her mural with ornamental shapes rooted in and typically found in Filipino tradition.
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“I want people to be able to take joy in seeing Filipino culture out in the world,” she shared. “It’s really cool how they revive such a long tradition, to keep it hip, but to also stick to its roots.”
During Portland TextileX’s artist talk, she expressed that her current artistic focus revolves around drawing inspiration from her Mexican and Filipino heritage, although she purposely avoids limiting herself to these influences.
“This year I’ve been trying to reframe my mind around my Filipina half and this project is allowing me to slow down and reflect on that growth,” she wrote on Instagram with a reel showing her attempt at her mural featuring “parols” or Filipino Christmas lanterns.
This will spring to life at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, the event’s home and a canvas for the city’s creative spirit. As it unfolds, visitors will be treated to 45 different scenes and 500 trees adorned by the community.
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The familiar mechanical scenes like the Caribbean Christmas, the Swiss Clock maker, and the iconic giant light-up Christmas Tree will share space with Graciano and other San Jose artists’ masterpieces.
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Beyond being a seasonal Christmas tradition in the city, Christmas in the Park is a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating the holiday season. Ninety percent of their budget comes from fundraising to finance the event, concurrently supporting community groups and charities.
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This year, they are renewing their collaboration with Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley for the annual Playhouse Competition. The nonprofit supports individuals in the local community and worldwide in building more livable homes.
