“Men are like wine. Some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.”
– Pope John XXIII
I had a memorable Christmas Day this year because I attended the double birthday celebration of Terisa Jose, the wife of my nephew, Ah Kiong, and her mother, Mary Mungam.
Imagine being born on Christmas Day and sharing the same birthday as Jesus Christ. Also imagine sharing the same birthday as your mother. Wow!
“Yes, I think it’s quite rare to be born on Christmas Day. Except for my mother, I have not met anyone who’s born on December 25,” Terisa, a 35-year-old sales manager for an Australian-based company, told me.
The mother of 11-year-old male twins and a four-year-old boy said 2025 had not been an easy year for her.
“I wish for a better year ahead, more calming and blessed,” she said.
Nevertheless, she was happy and grateful she could gather with her family members for her birthday celebration on Christmas Day.
Her mother, Mary, 52, was happy to celebrate her birthday with her daughter and her family members.
“I am glad everyone including my children, sons-in-law and grandchildren are here with me tonight. I hope we will continue to celebrate my birthday together every year for years to come,” said the housewife.
Ah Kiong chose a hot pot restaurant to hold the birthday party for his wife and mother-in-law. That hot pot restaurant is his favourite for any celebration and I can understand why.
Guests can cook their own ingredients in boiling broth at the table, making the experience different from a standard meal. There are two different broth bases (with and without tomato sauce) in a split pot, so you can try two different flavours.
You can chat and catch up as you cook and eat. But while the hot pot was simmering, Terisa, her parents and younger sister chose to sing.
Yes, combining karoke and hot pot is a popular entertainment trend, with many Kuching restaurants offering private dining rooms equipped with karaoke systems.
I understand many restaurants worldwide especially in cities like London and Singapore, have also adopted this concept.
The unique, hands-on nature of hot pot turns dinner into a memorable event without the hassle of cooking and cleaning up at home.
That night, Terisa and her family sang mostly English and Malay love songs.
Although I joined a choir while in high school, I have not used my voice for a long time and was content to listen to Terisa and her family sing while enjoying the food.
On the table were sliced pork belly, sliced beef round, sliced lamb loin, fish maw, sliced abalone, sea prawns, quail eggs, Taiwan sausages, shiitake mushrooms, sliced potatoes and steamed rice.
After everyone had eaten their fill, it was time for Ah Kiong and Terisa to present Christmas gifts to all those present and time for the birthday ‘girls’ to bring out their cakes and light the candles.
We all sang the “Happy Birthday” song before Terisa and her mother blew out the candles on their cakes after making their wishes.
After that, the cakes were then cut and shared with all those present. I also went home with slices of the two different cakes.
I learnt that celebrities also born on December 25 were English mathematician Isaac Newton, American actor Humprey Bogart and Scottish singer-songwriter, Annie Lennox.
Another family member with a rare birthday date is my younger sister, Ah Lan, who works and lives in Johor Bahru. Born on January 1, she is set to celebrate her 59th birthday in four days’ time.
It is easy to remember Ah Lan’s birthday because it coincides with the first day of a new year. Being born on January 1 is considered good because the day itself offers symbolic new beginnings.
Can you influence your baby’s birth month or season? Perhaps you can by planning the conception. But choosing the precise day is difficult and medically discouraged due to risks as babies develop according to their own schedule, with most experts recommending waiting until at least 39 weeks for optimal health.
When I asked Terisa’s mother, Mary, how she felt about having to deliver Terisa on Christmas Day 35 years ago, she replied, “It was okay.”
“What about the nurses and doctors?”
“No problem,” she replied.
I remember my sister, Ah Lan, was born at home. She was the youngest of six children. I never asked my mother why she did not go to Lau King Howe Hospital in Sibu for the delivery. Was she unaware that Ah Lan was due that day?
Now, my mother has gone forever, I will never know why.
Anyway, my friends, a belated Merry Christmas and Happy 2026 to you all.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at adelinel888@gmail.com.
