Known worldwide as having the longest Christmas Season, the Philippines as expected would have lots of events during the holidays. Some of the major highlights:
Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi (rooster’s mass). A remnant of our Spanish heritage, the Simbang Gabi heralds the official start of the Christmas season. For nine consecutive days starting on the dawn of December 16, Filipinos would brave the early morning cold (around 4 am) to hear mass. It is believed that whoever completes the nine masses will get their Christmas wish, although completing the nine masses is easier said than done, what with all the Christmas parties lined up during this time. A bonus that comes with the Simbang Gabi are the foods that are available outside the church once the mass is done: the Puto Bumbong and Bibingka. Puto Bumbong is a purple-colored Philippine delicacy made from glutinous rice using bamboo tubes. It was believed to have been brought to the Philippines from Mexico by the Spaniards. Bibingka is another delicacy made from rice flour that resembles a thick pancake and is usually topped with salted egg. It may have been brought to the Philippines from India, where it is a dessert known as bebinca in the province of Goa. Both delicacies are topped with butter, sugar and grated coconut prior to eating. Some people wake up early just to be able to eat them!
Caroling. Starting around December, children would form small groups and would go from house to house around their neighborhood and sing Christmas carols outside houses, hoping for the homeowners to reward them with coins for their efforts. Children would typically use makeshift musical instruments such as tambourines made from flattened aluminum bottle caps strung together by a piece of wire.
Bisperas ng Pasko or Christmas Eve. At around 10 pm of December 24, Filipinos would flock to the churches to hear the midnight mass. After hearing mass, families would go home and partake of the Noche Buena (Christmas Eve Midnight Dinner), which would traditionally include hot chocolate, queso de bola (ball of edam cheese), and hamon (ham). Children would also open their presents at this time, and before sleeping would hang their socks by the window which will be filled with goodies by Santa Claus by the time they wake up in the morning.
Pasko or Christmas Day. Christmas Day is usually spent by families attending the morning mass (Misa de Aguinaldo), then visiting the grandparents and the ninongs and ninangs (godfathers and godmothers). Children are usually given their aguinaldos (presents) in the form of crisp, freshly minted money bills placed in ampaos (red envelope).
Bisperas ng Bagong Taon or New Year’s Eve. By nightfall of December 31, you will definitely know it is the last day of the year just by listening: you will start to hear firecrackers more often, sometimes non-stop, and will culminate as midnight approaches. The use of firecrackers is a remnant of our Chinese heritage, with the belief that by creating loud noises we are chasing away the bad spirits so that the coming year will be safe, healthy and bountiful. Firecrackers and fireworks of different shapes and sizes are used, and although beautiful and entertaining, have been year after year the main cause of New Year’s Eve injuries. Similar to Christmas Eve, Filipinos would also attend the midnight mass, then come home to partake of the Media Noche, or New Year’s Eve dinner.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment