Simbang Gabi

[pinktulips2012 1]

SIMBANG GABI or MISA DE GALLO,

"midnight mass" or "mass of the rooster"

comes from the Catholic custom

of gathering for celebration of the

Eucharist in the pre-dawn hours of each of the nine days before

Christmas.

STARTING after midnight tonight (15 December), church bells will be

ringing very early in the morning until Christmas Day. Today marks the

beginning of the Christmas novena, or Simbang Gabi, in Tagalog.

For Filipino Catholics the nine-day celebration before Christmas

is a tradition with deep roots in the country's religious culture.

Literally, simbang gabi means ``night worship.'' The name

comes from the Catholic custom of gathering for the celebration

of the Eucharist in the pre-dawn hours on each of the nine days

before Christmas. Hence, this celebration is also known by its

popular Spanish name as the misa de gallo, or ``mass of the

rooster.'' Catholic churches throughout the country will be

ringing their bells around 3:00 or 3:30 in the morning long before

the roosters crow.

The origins of this Filipino custom are obscure. Perhaps the

tradition came from Mexico, like many Catholic practices and

devotions found in the Philippines. One old Spanish name for this

pre-Christmas series of daily masses is Misa de Aguinaldo. The

phrase offers some insight into the meaning of simbang gabi. In

Spanish aguinaldo means a gift. So Misa de Aguinaldo suggests a

gift for the Child Jesus. Whatever its title, this pre-Christmas

observance is surely a sacrifice of love for it requires dedication

and discipline to get out of bed so early while yet fulfilling all

one's daily duties.

Over the generations, local Filipino faith communities have

creatively adapted simbang gabi. While only candles and lanterns

are used in rural areas, as in centuries past, most churches today

have electric lights, lanterns, and sound systems in keeping with

the economic means of the congregation. So amplifiers now blare

the Christmas music and the readings from the World of God and

the Eucharistic prayers. Over adaptations are deeper. For example,

many urban parishes now celebrate simbang gabi around 8 or 9 in

the evening, not just in the morning, in order to accommodate the

needs of people on a great variety of work schedules. The custom

is also kept among Filipinos living elsewhere in the world. No

matter how or when this celebration takes place, the annual

simbang gabi provides a strong indication of the depth of

Catholicism in the hearts of Filipinos.

For those not taking in this celebration, simbang gabi may appear

to be too much noise too early in the morning. But a modicum of

reflection easily allows everyone to gain insight into the deeper

meaning of this celebration. Simbang gabi expresses the faith of

Filipinos who hold the same core belief as all Christians, namely,

that God is present in human history, even in the simple joys and

anxieties of life's humblest activities. Filipino Catholics who

sincerely live their belief in the incarnation merit the respect and

admiration of the whole nation.

So, let the bells of the Misa de Gallo break the pre-dawn silence of

the whole land. The bells offer a message of hope in God and of

hope for peace on earth.

[jom 4]

This reminds me. . last year I asked my husband if we could celebrate Christmas eve the Filipino way and he agreed. So we cooked and cooked. . . had little something to eat for dinner and waited for 12midnight before eating. He looked so sleepy and I wouldnt let him eat until 12. Well, Christmas day, he was tired and grouchy, hahaha.

Needless to say, we are not waiting for 12 midnight this year. He just can't do it, lol.

[RyaNRiza 1]

This reminds me. . last year I asked my husband if we could celebrate Christmas eve the Filipino way and he agreed. So we cooked and cooked. . . had little something to eat for dinner and waited for 12midnight before eating. He looked so sleepy and I wouldnt let him eat until 12. Well, Christmas day, he was tired and grouchy, hahaha.

Needless to say, we are not waiting for 12 midnight this year. He just can't do it, lol.

LOL jom, that was funny Now I am missing eating yummy Pinoy food on Christmas eve.