By A.M. Bernal-dela Rosa
We have a colorful and unique Christmas season in the Philippines. We celebrate this holiday longer than any other country in the world!
Among the many distinctly Filipino Christmas traditions in the Simbang Gabi or the dawn masses attended by churchgoers for the nine mornings before December 25. Cultural historian and former Education Secretary, Alejandro Roces, noted the pre-colonial origins of this practice in his book, Fiesta. He reported that December was a time of harvest for our rural fellows back then, and since they had to harvest in the morning, Simbang Gabi was held during the same time to accommodate the harvesters. Today, we see people diligently rising before dawn just to complete the series of masses.
Christmas light displays are also traditional in parks, malls and even throughout entire neighborhoods. This practice started long ago when Filipinos made simple lanterns to represent the star that guided the Magi on their way to see Baby Jesus.
Another exciting tradition especially for the children is giving gifts or cash bonuses. This spirit of giving is one of the things that bring joy at Christmas time. Its origins are said to come from the Spanish era when employers gave bonuses to their employees.
Filipinos, whether well-off or financially struggling, prepare something special to eat during the Christmas Eve feast. Again, this can be traced to the abundance of the harvest time during the pre-colonial period. The food prepared was even given to “harvest spirits and gods” that our predecessors believed in. Filipino families today take the holiday as an opportunity to gather and celebrate together.
Roces wrote, “Our Christmas celebrations have echoes of our pagan past.” But the world looks at us, a Christian country, and how we overwhelmingly celebrate Christmas. CNN noted in an article how our Christian faith is an “intrinsic part of the celebrations.” Since this is so, while we enjoy the cheer of Filipino traditions, we must not forget the center of Christmas, which is the Lord Jesus Christ. J. Hampton Keathley III of the Moody Bible Institute exhorted the believers to make sure we “understand the historical roots and use these things to teach the truth behind the traditions.”
If we want to feel the real spirit of Christmas, let us check to see if everything we do points to our Lord Jesus – whether we follow traditions, celebrate in a unique way, or choose to have an austere holiday.
