“Simbang Gabi,” a Timeless Tradition |
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Columns - JGL Eye | |||
Friday, 17 December 2010 11:24 | |||
JGL Eye By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA (© Journal Group Link International) How Some Filipino Americans Celebrate Advent in Chicagoland. And Reminiscing Christmas Traditions in the C HICAGO (jGLi) – My friends out west in the warmer climes of And this feeling of dreaming a balmy weather becomes more acute during the Christmas season. Especially when I am reminded of the Dawn Mass (Simbang Gabi) that kicks off the 16-day wait to usher in the Christmas celebration in the When I was young growing up in the The start of Simbang Gabi is also signal for us to make plans to round out our friends who could join us in singing Christmas carols, like kids doing it here in Chicago knocking from one house to another to get candies and goodies from house owners during Halloween.
The only difference between Christmas caroling and Halloween trick-or-treating is that, we sang Christmas carols, usually in Tagalog and in English. And we were rewarded with loose change given by house owners. We pooled the loose change to make a tidy sum and we would divide it among us after our caroling is over for the night. I surmised the practice must have started in THE FIRST CAROLERS T hat practice had taken off and caught on as a tradition of giving something to someone less fortunate during the Christmas season. And a few days before Christmas, because there was no Internet and Hardly did I hear that our relatives, who doubled as Santa Clauses, would be out of town. So, after attending the And from my experience, our relatives were already all ready waiting for us to give us their gifts on Christmas Day. The gifts usually came in small bills, which for us kids, were already big money. At But here in the And as to Simbang Gabi? Well, I will call the post Simbang Gabi as the "Community Christmas Party." This is one occasion during the Christmas season that friends and families get together to attend one big party. SAINT GREGORY CHURCH KEEPS UP WITH TRADITION Of course, I am referring to St. Gregory the A community Christmas party is usually held in its cafeteria. In the past, the parish pastor would often lead the singing of the Christmas carols after the community had a sumptuous meal after the mass. This year, they will be celebrating Simbang Gabi on a Friday, Dec. 17, the second day of the Evening Masses that end on Christmas Day. Different churches in the Chicagoland area hold the Simbang Gabi masses on different days leading to Christmas starting on Dec. 16. Last year, I attended a crowded Simbang Gabi celebrated by
Like any other Simbang Gabi celebration, everybody is invited to a dinner party after the mass. I think the spirit of sharing is really manifested during Simbang Gabi because those attending the Christmas dinner do not have to pay for a dinner ticket. Everybody is welcome in the Merry Christmas to all! # # # Editor’s Note: To contact the author, please e-mail him at: (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)
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Last Updated on Friday, 17 December 2010 11:52 |
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