Caroling in the Philippines:

Caroling is an enduring and beautiful Filipino Christmas tradition. Once the month of December comes, we see carolers going around singing Christmas carols from house to house spreading the spirit of the season through Christmas songs, traditional and modern versions.

Usually it is the children grouping together and going around house to house in their neighborhood to sing Christmas carols. Among the old time favorites are Jingle Bells, Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Silver Bells. Traditional Filipino Christmas songs add to the festive atmosphere, like Ang Pasko ay Sumapit, Pasko na Naman, Himig Pasko, Payapang Daigdig.

Filpino ingenuity comes naturally with handmade musical instruments made from bottle tops for tambourine, or drums fashioned out from used cans or biscuit tins. The children are happy with whatever amount from the generosity of people is shared with them.

Even adults are into caroling during the Christmas season. Church organizations, clubs, and other adult groups also do their caroling to raise funds. Some of these groups give a letter in advance to inform the date and time of caroling. They usually come with more "professional" musical instruments like the guitar, drums, tambourine, and even portable musical organ. For these groups, it is a wonderful feeling not only to spread the joy of the Yuletide Season but to raise needed funds for their organizations or causes and advocacy.

In my community, a group of chapel volunteers do our annual caroling during the first week of December among our community to raise funds for the annual maintenance and operational expenses of our community chapel. We end up before the start of our Simbang Gabi Masses which at 5 in the morning to have time to prepare for the Simbang Gabi Masses in our chapel.

Christmas carols make the Yuletide Season livelier and more spirited. They remind the people that Christmas is really giving and sharing, which also manifests the Filipino spirit of generosity and magnanimity.

Simbang Gabi  in the Philippines

As our Advent pilgrimage draws near to Christmas Day, Catholics in the Philippines begin their spiritual preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with novena Masses popularly called "Simbang Gabi".

Simbang Gabi or Mass at Dawn is a devotional nine-day novena in honor of the

Blessed Mother in preparation for Christmas. It is a tradition with deep roots in the country's religious culture, and one of the longest and most popular among Filipino traditions in the Philippines. Simbang Gabi expresses the faith of Filipinos who hold the belief that God is ever present in human history, in the simple joys and anxieties of life's humblest activities.

This novena Mass begins on December 16 until 24. Catholic churches across the nation start to open their doors shortly before the break of dawn at 4 or 5 in the morning, to welcome the faithful to the Simbang Gabi Mass.

Many urban parishes now celebrate anticipated Simbang Gabi around 8 or 9 in the evening in order to accommodate the needs of people on a great variety of work schedules. Anticipated Simbang Gabi Masses start on December 15 to 23.

Origin

It is said that Simbang Gabi traces its roots in Mexico in 1587. Here in the Philippines it originated in the early days of Spanish rule. This cherished Christmas custom eventually became a distinct feature of Philippine culture.

Christmas Celebration

The changing of times does not break the preservation of celebrating Simbang Gabi in the Philippines. The tradition continuous to our generation, although the celebration incorporates new ways. 

For example, there are colorful lights and lanterns that fill every street leading to the churches. Songs of the season are played to warm the hearts. Families, friends and the faithful in general go to the nearest church to attend the nine-day novena Mass. And shortly after Mass families go back home to feast on various delicacies like bibingka, puto bungbong or a drink of salabat or hot chocolate.

Relevance

Simbang Gabi is not just a tradition that is celebrated because we need to do so. It provides a significant moment to strengthen relationship among family members. More importantly, it is a time when our faith is intensified. It is the time when we feel the presence of the Lord because it is our spiritual preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day.

The old Spanish name for the Simbang Gabi is actually "Misa de Aguinaldo". The phrase offers some insight into the meaning of Simbang Gabi. In Spanish "aguinaldo" means a gift. So Misa de Aguinaldo suggests a gift for the Child Jesus on his birthday. Because the observance of Simbang Gabi is somewhat a sacrifice of love as it requires dedication, will power and discipline to get out of bed so early while yet fulfilling all of one's daily duties and obligations.

It is good to be able to complete the nine-day novena Masses. Even if we miss some days, the blessing does not depend on the number of Mass attended. What is important is the disposition of the person who makes some sacrifice of waking up early to attend the Simbang Gabi Mass and receive the Lord's blessing.

Church Bells Ring

Let the bells of Simbang Gabi break the pre-dawn silence of the whole land. For the bells of Simbang Gabi offer a message of hope in God, especially at this crucial time when our nation has been devastated by series of calamities, both man-made and natural. 

Let us hope in God, and pray for peace on earth to people of good will.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!