Filipino traditions light the way for Christmas

By Mary Powers

Joining Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem, many cultures spend the last nine days of Advent remembering the nine months Mary spent with Jesus in her womb. The practice of these early morning Masses before work began in Europe and spread as missionaries evangelized new lands.

The traditional Spanish novena of morning Masses called “Misa de Gallo” spread to the Philippines around the time Magellan came to the islands and during the conversion of the Filipino people. This tradition was further strengthened by the German Augustinians who came later carrying their tradition of the “Rorate” candlelit Mass. Over time, the morning Masses came to be known as “Simbang Gabi,” which Filipinos celebrate around the world.

In the Archdiocese of San Francisco, the Filipino Ministry holds an annual Simbang Gabi Commissioning Mass in early December to prepare for the novena of Masses that begin Dec. 16.

As part of the Commissioning Mass, each parish brings their “parol” to be blessed in anticipation of the novena. The star-shaped, lighted lantern is another Filipino Advent and Christmas tradition that dates back hundreds of years.

The Filipino word “parol” comes from the Spanish word “farol,” which the Spanish used to describe the lanterns the Filipino people would use. While the Christmas lanterns began as a way for Catholics to get to the early morning Masses in the dark, over time these lanterns were fashioned into stars for Christmas using flexible bamboo sticks and Japanese paper called “papel de japon.”

“For me, the parol is the visible sign of God’s greatest gift to humanity, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!” said Father Angel Quitalig, pastor of St. Mark Church in Belmont and vicar for the Filipino community. “The light of the parol on Christmas, the incarnation of Christ, is the same light we illuminate at the celebration of the Easter Vigil, Christ’s resurrection, the victory of Christ over the darkness of sin and death.”

Symbolically, the lighted star represents the Star of Bethlehem, but one can also see that the traditional parol and Simbang Gabi Masses are symbols of the faith of the Filipino people journeying with the Holy Family to Bethlehem to welcome the Light of the World.

Find Simbang Gabi Masses near you: www.sfarch.org/simbang-gabi