Maze: About Simbang Gabi
Simbang Gabi "night worship" or Misa de Gallo "mass of the rooster" is a Philippine custom for celebration of the Eucharist in the pre-dawn. Simbang Gabi is celebrated on December 16 and culminates in the celebration of Midnight Mass.
Simbang Gabi/Advent Novena Masses were celebrated in the early morning hours, when the roosters crow to announce the coming of a new day (hence, the name Misa de Gallo) for a very practical reason: Many Filipinos were farmers or fishermen who either begin or end their workday at dawn. The missionaries decided that they could gather all the people together at one time, implant Christianity in the hearts and minds of the Filipinos, preserve the Catholic faith and continue the propagation of the Gospels by integrating a distinctly Filipino custom with the needs of Catholic worship. Thus at 3:00 am, the local band played traditional Christmas carols all over town or the sacristan pealed the bells and the whole town was up for Simbang Gabi. By 5:00 am the Mass is over and celebration continued with a variety of delicacies in the churchyard for everyone's pleasure with lightened lanterns (parol) made from bamboo and paper hanging from windows and decorating the church.
The Filipino immigrants continued this celebration in the United States. Because it's impractical to hold Simbang Gabi at dawn, local parishes celebrate in the evening. Simbang Gabi in the Archdiocese of Chicago is celebrated by participating parishes, each hosting an evening mass.
Simbang Gabi "night worship" or Misa de Gallo "mass of the rooster" is a Philippine custom for celebration of the Eucharist in the pre-dawn. Simbang Gabi is celebrated on December 16 and culminates in the celebration of Midnight Mass.
Simbang Gabi/Advent Novena Masses were celebrated in the early morning hours, when the roosters crow to announce the coming of a new day (hence, the name Misa de Gallo) for a very practical reason: Many Filipinos were farmers or fishermen who either begin or end their workday at dawn. The missionaries decided that they could gather all the people together at one time, implant Christianity in the hearts and minds of the Filipinos, preserve the Catholic faith and continue the propagation of the Gospels by integrating a distinctly Filipino custom with the needs of Catholic worship. Thus at 3:00 am, the local band played traditional Christmas carols all over town or the sacristan pealed the bells and the whole town was up for Simbang Gabi. By 5:00 am the Mass is over and celebration continued with a variety of delicacies in the churchyard for everyone's pleasure with lightened lanterns (parol) made from bamboo and paper hanging from windows and decorating the church.
The Filipino immigrants continued this celebration in the United States. Because it's impractical to hold Simbang Gabi at dawn, local parishes celebrate in the evening. Simbang Gabi in the Archdiocese of Chicago is celebrated by participating parishes, each hosting an evening mass.
St. Joan of Arc Parish creche (Waiting for the Baby Jesus).
No comments:
Post a Comment