SIMBANG GABI, or dawn mass, heralds the official start of Christmas among Filipinos, kicking off in the wee hours of the morning of December 16, for nine consecutive days.
This dawn mass is also a novena, and completing all nine days has been a “panata” or offering/ sacrifice as a way of preparing one’s heart for the birthday of Jesus. For some devotees, it is a way of thanking God for the blessings of the year that is about to end, while for others, it is meant to submit to the altar their most ardent prayers seeking God’s miracle.
Also known as “Misa de Aguinaldo”, the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines website says these masses came from the original novena Masses in preparation for Christmas in honour of the Annunciation (or Expectation) of the Blessed Virgin Mary wherein Churches in Spain provided food after the Mass to the needy, hence the word “aguinaldo” (gift).
It is hard to find dawn masses in churches here in America, but what kababayans here attend are the evening anticipated masses. Some use the internet to virtually attend the dawn masses in the Philippines, like the live streaming of Simbang Gabi at Quiapo Church.
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
