CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Maria Concepcion Panlilio
(Published 2005- Asian American Times)
(IMAGES TO BE ADDED LATER)
A sea of religious devotees from all over the Philippines, many of them indigent and shoeless, ignored threats of terrorism from an al-Quaeda-linked group and crammed the Quiapo Church for this year's procession of the Black Nazarene. The half a million turnout of the faithful, the biggest ever, squeezed their way through the mass of humanity to get closer to the carriage carrying the life-size wooden replica of Christ. They believe that the statue, which the Spaniards brought to the Philippines from Mexico in 1606, has miraculous powers that can heal their illnesses, redeem them from their sins or grant their wishes for a better life. Some simply come to honor and give thanks to the Son of God.
The Philippines is the only Christian nation in Asia and no other country celebrates Christmas the way Filipinos do. First, leave it to the fun-loving Pinoys to lengthen the official celebration to twenty-two days, which include nine dawn masses before Christmas and ends on the Feast of the Three Kings on the first Sunday of January. In actuality, the holiday season commences in September when radio stations begin to fill the airwaves with Christmas songs, and market and street vendors begin to sell and peddle parols and other holiday trinkets.
Christmas in the Philippines is filled with traditions that many of us who now live in America feel nostalgic about during the holidays. To name some: the religious processions, early dawn masses, Christmas carols, the "parols" (lanterns) that hang on every house, the bursting of firecrackers in air, the family gatherings, the visits to ninang and ninong (godparents) for gifts, usually money, the midnight mass on Christmas Eve followed by "kainan" (eats) at the makeshift stalls outside the church for tantalizing foods, such as "puto bumbong" and "bibingka" (cakes made from rice) with complementing "salabat" (ginger tea), and other native delicacies.
The Misa de Gallo. At this time of year, Catholic churches organize religious processions, which are either held late at night or very early in the morning. People chant and pray as they walk the neighborhood and continue all the way to the cathedral. Filipinos start celebrating the birth of Christ on December 16, with a dawn mass before the roosters crow also known as "Misa de Gallo" (mass of the cock); and on December 24 (Christmas Eve), the mass is held at midnight. At this mass the story of the birth of Christ is read from the Bible with a reenactment of Joseph and Mary's quest for a sanctuary. Then we go home where relatives unite for the "noche buena" (midnight feast), or a very early breakfast.
The Parol. As soon as the Novenas start, people begin hanging their parols in the windows, and displaying their "Belens" (manger) in the living room. The star-shaped parol symbolizes the star of Bethlehem - the welcoming of the Holy Family in search of a place to stay. It is lighted inside - a striking sight from afar, like a beacon in the night. Parols are made from a variety of materials from available resources, such as mussel shells, coconut trees, bamboo, lacquered paper, cellophane, and papel de Japon (Japanese paper). Their sizes vary from six to twenty feet or more. Imagine a neighborhood at night where each house boasts of its glamorous Christmas Lanterns.
The Carolers. One of the traditions I miss most are the carolers, and I remember doing some of it with some neighborhood friends to spread the joy of the season (and to finance our parties). There are many types of carolers. Some do it for altruistic reasons, such as fund-raising for their church or civic organizations, and to distribute gifts to needy children. But many of them do it simply to raise money for personal use. Many children carol in the tradition of the American Haloween's "trick or treat" just to collect enough money to buy candies. One of my favorite carolers are those that trek down the mountains and tread the major residential or business streets, dancing and banging home made drums or other noise makers and ask for money. Some people consider them a nuisance; I think they're culturally wonderful and entertaining.
