Tradition continues despite changing times

The traditional Simbang Gabi or dawn Mass starts today, ushering the nine-day novena that leads to Christmas Day.

In predominantly Catholic Philippines, the nine-day dawn Masses send the faithful from the warmth of their homes, braving the cool December wind, to affirm their faith at Mass.

Dawn Masses are also called misa de gallo, because they are celebrated as the cock crows at the crack of dawn.

Among the Filipino Christmas traditions, none could be more embedded in the local culture than the Simbang Gabi, which is usually followed by a breakfast of puto bumbong and bibingka (rice cakes).

This tradition, however, originated in Mexico in 1587 when the Pope granted the petition of Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the convent of San Agustin Acolman, to hold Christmas Mass outdoors. Soria petitioned the Pope for an outdoor Mass in order to accommodate the huge number of people that overflowed from the church during the evening Mass.

When the Spanish conquistadors landed in the Philippines in the 17th century, the dawn Masses were introduced to native Filipinos.

Misa de gallo

In those times, the Christmas Masses were held early in the morning to symbolize the actual time of birth of Christ, but this was eventually adjusted to pre-dawn hours for the convenience of churchgoers.

This gave birth to the term misa de gallo, to denote the crowing of cocks that marked the time when the Mass begins.

It is also said that in the earlier times, parish priests would go knocking on doors to wake and gather the faithful to attend the misa de gallo.

This was convenient to rural folks, especially to farmers and fishermen who had to wake up early for work, as they had time to hear the gospel and ask for the grace of good harvest before going to the farm or the sea.

Much later, in some rural areas, brass bands began playing Christmas music all over the town an hour before the Mass to help enjoin the faithful to go to church.

Simbang Gabi today

The ringing of the church bells still signal Simbang Gabi. However, as Western concepts were incorporated into the traditional Filipino Christmas, the celebration became marked by festivity more than solemnity.

While churchgoers previously made their way to the church by the light of flickering candles by the windows and doorsteps of barrio houses, modern-day Mass-goers now go by with brightly lit Christmas lanterns that festoon even humble houses in both barrios and cities all over the country.

Likewise, colorful Christmas lights have somewhat displaced the traditional parol (lantern) hung in windows as the use of various ornaments — from Christmas trees to images of Santa Claus with his reindeer — seeped into what has been a largely religious activity.

Despite the changes that now pervade the Filipino Christmas tradition, Simbang Gabi continues to be the bedrock of Catholic Christmas celebration and Filipino families still find time to attend the nine-day novena.

And shortly after the misa de gallo, they still gather in their homes to feast on various delicacies like queso de bola, bibingka, puto bungbong, or a drink of salabat (ginger tea) or hot chocolate.

Nowadays, there are even anticipated dawn Masses, held the night before, to accommodate office workers who start heading for work at dawn the next day.

The Simbang Gabi, in more ways than one, is part of the evangelization process that started upon the Spanish conquest of the Philippines. The morning Masses were introduced to teach the people the meaning of Christmas and how to prepare as a people waiting for the coming for the Messiah.