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Ah, Christmas! The season of good tidings, caroling, hot chocolate and hot apple pies! And of course, there are the thrill of shopping for presents and the spirit of giving. When I think of Christmas, I immediately recall a tradition my brother and I share while growing up: we watched "It's a Wonderful Life" with James Stewart and Donna Reed every Christmas season. It was a simple ritual but completely ours.
Filipinos in the US try to continue the traditions they grew up with in the Philippines. One in particular, the Simbang Gabi or Midnight Mass. It commences nine days before Christmas, on December 16. In reality, it starts at dawn as early as 4:30 am. The masses are held consecutively for nine days. It works something like a novena for the very religious. For the fun loving Filipino youths, it was also a chance to make "silay," or get a chance to take an eyeful of their "crush." For those going steady, it was an opportunity to go on "a date." Believe it or not, it can get pretty cool in the wee hours of the morning in the Philippines. The cool December air makes one look forward to the breakfast of puto-bumbong (a purple sticky rice delicacy) and hot chocolate made of concentrated cocoa that almost taste bittersweet. The whistle of that contraption that makes the puto-bumbong is the continuation of the Christmas carols sang during mass. We make adjustments in the US. We hold the Midnight Mass consecutively for nine days before Christmas but in different Churches for each day, and it is usually held at around 7 pm. There are no puto-bumbong vendors lining up outside the churches and people are usually in a hurry to get home after the mass. It is more challenging to carry out the tradition of the godchildren's visitation of their godparents. The kids will probably still get their presents most likely by mail or a third party. The personal blessings that is suppose to come with it are missing. If there is one role Filipinos take seriously, it is that of a godparent. The visitation serves the purpose of strengthening the bond between godparent and godchild. As children, I recall those occasions when we did go on those visits. Our Ninang or Ninong would try to digest a whole year's worth of growth and development in a span of few minutes. Then of course, my brother and I would either get a beautifully wrapped package, or money. Later on, I had the chance to find myself on the other shoe, when dozens of godchildren would pay me a visit on Christmas Day. It was a definite pleasure to see how these children were growing and thriving. These children, who are your extended families. In the US, people tend to live far from each other making it difficult to make a personal visit. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Christmas: Filipino American Style in Filipino-American Culture is owned by . Permission to republish Christmas: Filipino American Style in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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