Simbang Gabi

Simbang Gabi (Filipino for "Night Mass") is a devotional nine-day series of Masses practiced by Filipino Catholics and Aglipayans in the Philippines in anticipation of Christmas. This is similar to the nine-day series of dawn Masses leading to Christmas Eve practiced in Puerto Rico called Misa de Aguinaldo.

Simbang Gabi
Simbang Gabi Mass at the St. Joseph Parish Church of Las Piñas City
Also calledMisa de Gallo (for the last Mass observed in Simbang Gabi)
Observed byFilipino Christians (by the Catholics and the Aglipayans)
SignificanceChristmas season
ObservancesNovena
BeginsDecember 16
EndsDecember 24
Related toMisa de Aguinaldo
Christmas Day

The Simbang Gabi Masses in the Philippines are held daily from December 16–24 and occur at different times ranging from as early as 03:00 to 05:00 PST.[1] On the last day of the Simbang Gabi, which is Christmas Eve, the service is instead called Misa de Gallo (Spanish for "Rooster's Mass"). It has an important role in Philippine culture.

History

The Simbang Gabi originated in the early days of Spanish rule over the Philippines as a practical compromise for farmers, who began work before sunrise to avoid the noonday heat out in the fields. It began in 1669. Priests began to say Mass in the early mornings instead of the evening novenas more common in the rest of the Hispanic world. This cherished Christmas custom eventually became a distinct feature of Philippine culture and became a symbol of sharing.[2]

Spanish Era agricultural practices

The Philippines is an agricultural country known for its rice, coconut and sugarcane plantations. Many tenant farmers (also known as sacadas, campesinos, and casamacs) toiled all day with one break during noon when the heat would be at its peak. Losing an hour due to the unbearable temperatures, farmers worked hard and budgeted their time out of fear of the local encargado, who administered land for the Spanish feudal lord or encomendero/hacendero.

In between the planting and harvest seasons is a lull in the corvée forced on natives. Those who were old enough to provide manual labor were gathered under the tributo system where men would have to work for free for the Spanish colonial government's building projects. The women also had their share of work tending to their vegetable gardens (tumana) and as household staff for the elite.

When the Christmas season would begin, it was customary to hold novenas in the evenings, but the priests saw that the people would attend despite the day's fatigue. As a compromise, the clergy began to say Masses in the early morning while it was still dark before people went out to work the land.

Cuisine
Bibingka rice cakes, one of the dishes commonly associated with Simbang Gabi

During the Spanish Era and early American Period, the parishioners would mostly have nothing to offer during Mass except sacks of rice, fruits and vegetables, and fresh eggs. The Church would share the produce with the congregation after the service.

After Mass, Filipinos buy and eat holiday delicacies sold in the churchyard for breakfast. Bibingka, (rice cakes cooked above and below) and puto bumbong (steamed purple rice pastries, seasoned with butter, grated coconut, and brown sugar) are popular, often paired with tsokolate (hot chocolate from local cacao) or salabát (ginger tea).

Today, local delicacies are readily available in the church's premises for the parishioners. The iconic puto bumbóng, bibingka, suman and other rice pastries are cooked on the spot. Latík and yema are sweets sold to children, while biscuits like uraró (arrowroot), barquillos, lengua de gato and otap (ladyfingers) are also available. Kape Barako (a very strong coffee grown in the province of Batangas), hot tsokolate, or salabat are the main drinks, while soups such as arróz caldo (rice and chicken porridge) and papait (goat bile stew from the Ilocos region) are also found.

The rice-based foods were traditionally served to fill the stomachs of the farmers, since rice is a cheap and primary staple. The pastries were full of carbohydrates needed by colonial Filipinos for the work they undertook in the rice paddies and sugar mills.

Current Practices
Simbang Gabi at the Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Balayan, Batangas

The Mass usually begins at four o’clock in the morning.[3] Pope Sixtus V ordered that Mass be heard before sunrise since it was the harvest season,[4] and the farmers needed to be in the fields right after the celebration.[5]

White is the liturgical colour authorised solely for Masses celebrated within the context of the novena; violet is used for any other Masses said during the day, as these are still considered part of the Advent season.

Filipinos celebrate this Mass with great solemnity and the Gloria is often sung. Simbang Gabi is also celebrated in malls. Recently, however, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle discouraged the celebration of Mass in malls, except when a mall has its own chapel.[6]

Evening celebrations of the Simbang Gabi are also held from the 15th of December until the 23rd. Erroneously described as "anticipated Simbang Gabi" since Vigil or Anticipated Masses are only applicable for Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, these are scheduled especially in urban areas. However, the propers and readings used for these Masses are those which are prescribed for the day. Although practiced in some parishes, "Anticipation" of the propers and readings prescribed for the next day is prohibited.

A well-known folk belief among the Filipinos is that if a devotee completed all nine days of the Simbang Gabi, a request made as part of the novena may be granted.[7]

Similar to the Spanish tradition of lighting small oil lamps on Christmas Eve, Filipinos adorn their homes with paról, which are colourful star-shaped lantern. This is believed to have originally been used by worshippers to light their way to church in the early morning, as well as to symbolise the Star of Bethlehem. Paróls continue to be popular yuletide decorations in the Philippines, as iconic and emblematic as Christmas trees are in the West.

To give the faithful a chance to experience how the Simbang Gabi was celebrated during Spanish times, groups which celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass also celebrate the Simbang Gabi in candlelight and with locally composed, centuries-old music for the Mass. [8]

See also

References
  1. Rodell, Paul (November 2001). Culture and customs of the Philippines. Greenwood. ISBN 978-0313304156.
  2. Roces, Alfredo (1 October 2009). Culture Shock! Philippines: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette. Marshall Cavendish Reference. ISBN 978-0761456711.
  3. "Misa de Gallo." Christmas in the Philippines. http://www.tourisminthephilippines.com/city/Tacloban/christmas-in-the-philippines/christmas-in-the-philippines-misa-de-gallo.html Retrieved 2 June 2013
  4. "Going to Mass at Christmas." Filipinas Heritage Library. http://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/news/40-filipiniana/112-going-to-mass-at-christmas%5B%5D Retrieved 2 June 2013
  5. Rodell, Paul (November 2001). Culture and customs of the Philippines. Greenwood. ISBN 978-0313304156.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-12-22. Retrieved 2014-12-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "The Origin and Meaning of the Simbang Gabi Novena." Catholic San Francisco. http://www.catholic-sf.org/news_select.php?id=59339%5B%5D Retrieved 2 June 2013
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-X0m0w5mVM
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