In celebrating the Christmas season, most Filipinos can attest that the absence of Simbang Gabi renders the period incomplete. The nine-day novena is a longstanding Filipino tradition held in the early mornings in anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Though referred to by many names and practiced in different countries around the world, Simbang Gabi can be traced to Spanish origin. Also known as misa de gallo, which is Spanish for “rooster’s mass,” the tradition is said to have been held before dawn for farmers to pray for good harvest, as they started their days before the cocks would crow. Eventually spreading to the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, Simbang Gabi became heavily entwined with the culture of religious Filipinos.
While universally known as a Roman Catholic tradition, various Christian denominations in the country have embraced the practice with their own set of interpretations and adaptations. Yet despite doctrinal differences, it remains an enduring tradition that brings families together to celebrate their faith and community.
Puto bumbongs before Christmas Eve
At the crack of dawn, the buzzing breeze and the creak of food carts softly greet churchgoers waking up to the aroma of freshly baked pandesal, bibingka, and puto bumbong. In this atmosphere, diverse beliefs come together in one bite, for one tradition.
For Mara Nicole Flores (IV, EEDECED), it’s in a hot plate of puto bumbong, bibingka, or breakfast food that she finds the motivation to get up at 4:30 am. A devout Catholic, Flores’ experience of Simbang Gabi has been through the lens of her dad, who is a barangay kagawad. Her early mornings consist of the common sight of sleepy kids and styrofoam cups filled with 3-in-1 coffee mixes, as she helps organize the food program along with other youth volunteers during the nine-day celebration.
Meanwhile, at the San Isidro Labrador Parish in Pasay City, Bro. Val Renon has found service and sentimental value through food during the communal celebration. “Biruin mo, sa pagkain lang pala magga-gather ‘yung mga tao para mas lalo natin makilala ‘yung isa’t isa,” he shares with a warm smile. He also recounts how the community gives back through their church’s program, “Media Noche Niyo: Regalo Ko Para Kay Kristo.” During Simbang Gabi, mass attendees are invited to pledge an amount in exchange for food packages, which will be given to less fortunate members of the parish.
(Can you imagine? It’s only through food that people gather and really get to know one another.)
As a Born Again Christian, Maria Rowena “Weng” Avila warms at the found common sentiment, sharing how their church would also bring out food carts with coffee, hot chocolate, and bread to add to the Christmas festivities. In contrast, Simbang Gabi is only commemorated by Born Again Christians one day before Christmas. Avila explains that their preparations truly center on encouraging people to engage in the celebration. Friends, family, or friends of family—everyone is invited to a community of the same faith.
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Protestant groups consider themselves familiar with this routine of shared union in mass. But Fr. Jerome Baris, a senior pastor at the UCCP Cosmopolitan Church, explains their more intricate implementation. They celebrate in accordance with a theme curated by their three boards and approved by their Church Council, the legislative body of their Church. Fr. Baris then says that it’s the value of fellowship that follows—the vibrancy in the strengthening of faith as one community.
Coming from different religious beliefs, Filipinos share their purpose in fulfilling the nine days of Simbang Gabi—devoting oneself to the proclamation of His word, giving service to the community, and like the rest of us, finding mundane moments in inaumagahang kape’t pandesal shared with friends and family.
A personal Simbang Gabi
No matter what reason church members have for attending the mass at such early hours, there’s no denying that the practice of Simbang Gabi has become a cornerstone of Filipino culture. It’s an inspiring commitment that invites observers to ponder how this tradition took hold in the first place, let alone transform into the cultural juggernaut we see today.
Br. Renon talks about the superstition that surrounds Simbang Gabi, that if someone were to complete their nine-day commitment, their prayers would be answered. It wouldn’t be too far-fetched to attribute such belief to its popularity. However, he’s quick to point out their dogma that not all wishes are granted after fulfilling this tradition. “Tinitignan din dito ni God if our intentions are pure, if our intentions will be helpful to others, and [if] eventually it will be helpful to us. Maybe [then] God will answer yes,” he muses.
(God also observes if our intentions are pure.)
But the derivation of meaning and significance from Simbang Gabi lies beyond superstition—it instead underscores the Filipinos’ personal connection to the tradition, revealing how they are shaped and formed through their participation in Simbang Gabi.
To Flores, attending Simbang Gabi strengthened her relationship with her family and loved ones, as it became a routine she shared with her siblings. As a kid, she cherished playing with them after going to church, making the time they spent after the mass just as important. But as she grew older, Flores dove deeper into her faith. “It’s really become different in a way that is more fruitful and more purposeful,” she mentions.
To Avila and many Born Again Christians, it’s a renewal of faith. “It’s the birth of our God. So, it’s a reminder for me that God isn’t dead, right? He’s so powerful…He remains ever-present,” she expresses in Filipino. But Avila sees it as a way to not only reconnect with her faith, but with old friends she hasn’t seen in a long time, making the celebration truly special for their community.
Revitalizing Filipino devotion
Since its inception, Simbang Gabi has evolved to be more than just a Eucharistic celebration held for workers who start their days before sunrise, and more than an obligation for devout followers of Christ. Regardless of Christian denomination, participating in Simbang Gabi has become a voluntary commitment of sacrifice in preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
For Filipinos, the practice is an avenue for strengthening the bond between family, friends, and the community through shared spiritual devotion and a love for good food. This sense of intimacy can be compared to the ever-familiar breaking of Christ’s bread and wine for his beloved disciples, a symbol of His unconditional love.
“When we have the genuine intention to attend Simbang Gabi, we then make it a commitment to spend this time with our family; to spend this time with God in this beautiful season that He provided us with,” Flores imparts with a smile. Christmas in the Philippines lives on through purpose and communion, and the season of giving continuously transforms into something all the more special and personal because of the Filipino spirit.
