Maligayang Pasko! Perpetuate Our Filipino Christmas Tradition

The newly appointed Cardinal Pablo David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), called on priests to make the most of the “Simbang Gabi” (Dawn Masses) to effectively share the Word of God with the faithful. David said, “This is the time when people really listen to the Church. They are captive audiences. They like to hear the Word of God.”

Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo or Misa de Aguinaldo
During the Christmas season Filipinos practice the Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo or Misa de Aguinaldo in which adherents to this tradition attend Mass for nine consecutive days starting on Dec. 16 and ends on Christmas Eve. Why nine days? That’s adopted from the Catholic novena – word “novena” means 9 in Latin – that calls for nine days of consecutive prayer with the last day culminating and landing on a significant day from which your prayers are answered. The last day could be the day of a job interview, day of wedding, day of a scheduled surgery, or whatever day of importance.

So Filipino Catholics came up with this same concept of the novena with the last day ending on the birth of Christ on Christmas Eve. What a deeply devotional concept and ending on a day that Christians believe to be the most cherished among days of the calendar year, the birth of Christ on Earth who came for the salvation of mankind.

The nine-days Masses are considered “Votive Masses.” Fr. Fidel Villaroel, O.P., a former professor at the University of Santo Tomas and a historian, explained “Votive Masses are those that do not correspond with the Office of the day but are said by choice of the celebrant, with special texts for particular intentions.”

This practice dates back to the fourth century when parishioners requested special masses for various intentions. Over time, while some votive masses were eliminated, others, like the Simbang Gabi or Misa de Aguinaldo, remained part of the Roman Missal.

Fr. Villaroel said Rome recognizes them as privileged votive masses, celebrated pro re gravi (for grave or weighty reasons) and with massive attendance by the faithful.

This uniquely Filipino Catholic practice has been accepted and approved by the Catholic Church because of its adherence to Catholic tradition. It’s been done in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York to Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu, and churches across the globe where there is a vibrant Filipino community.

For a first time marking a historic milestone, in 2019 Pope Francis celebrated the Simbang Gabi in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. As expected, that special Mass was attended by the diaspora of Filipinos in Rome and neighboring European cities and visitors. Over 150 Filipino priests attended, and the aisles were full of Filipino Catholics perpetuating this sacred tradition of prayer in honor of our Lord’s physical birth.

Parol, Noche Buena, AguinaldoFilipino Christmas traditions are first and foremost centered on Jesus’ birth, the Christian faith and spirituality. Another Christmas custom is the making or showcasing of the Parol — a star-shaped lantern, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem. In the old days predating streetlights, the Parol was used as light guiding Filipinos on their way walking to the local church for the Simbang Gabi. The Simbang Gabi Masses were held early in the morning before the break of dawn – while still dark — to accommodate farming communities who would attend these Masses before heading out to work in the fields.

The Noche Buena, feast before Christmas Day, is another tradition anchored in religious practice. Families would gather for a festive meal either before or after attending Christmas Eve or midnight Mass. The feast is a celebration for Christ’s birth, again, the main theme of Filipino Christmas traditions.

The Filipino Christmas tradition of Aguinaldo (meaning: Christmas bonus in Spanish) is a Christmas gift, usually money in the form of fresh peso bills in envelopes. Outside of the Philippines, aguinaldo is a general term to mean gifts of any kind exchanged during Christmas. Aguinaldo also is anchored in religious practice after the biblical magi (three magi, three kings, three wisemen) who visited the Christ infant, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh in homage to Jesus.

Perpetuating Filipino Christmas traditions
Modern practices of Filipino Christmas traditions have evolved slightly and in varying ways depending on where the Filipino diaspora is. For example, while aguinaldo (money gifting in envelopes) is still practiced in the Philippines, Filipinos in the U.S. might find such an exchange as not putting much thought into such a gift. But still, the heart of the tradition remains intact.

Another variation for Filipino communities in the West where the Simbang Gabi might not be offered or it would be too early and close in time for one’s work schedule to attend Mass, some Filipinos observe the nine-days of Mass with nine-days of prayer at home like a traditional novena. In this way, again, the heart of the tradition remains intact.

There are ways that Filipino families can practice these old, some very sacred, traditions in the modern era. Perpetuating these customs is carrying on parts of our Filipino-ness and identity, as well as what we place high in value. Clearly, centering God in our daily lives is one among them, the reason for the season.

We hope parents will teach their children to carry on these traditions. May your Christmas be filled with fond memories. Have a Merry Christmas! Maligayang Pasko!