Simbang gabi

By Fr Leo Pabayo .

“SIMBANG gabi ay simula ng Pasko

Sa puso ng lahing Pilipino.”

“Simbang Gabi” is at the heart of our Filipino way of celebrating Christmas. It also defines the meaning to the other ways by which we celebrate Christmas.

“May mga parol na nakasindi.”

Long before the Simbang Gabi Christmas lanterns already hung at the windows of many houses. Much earlier, students in Basic Education are already making lanterns as part of their classes in the industrial arts. Prisoners too become busy making lanterns in the prisons to earn them something for Christmas that they can give to their oved ones.

The lanterns come in various forms, sizes and colors. Some of the best in Filipino art can be seen in the lanterns. The lanterns are probably the most apt reminder that the Holy Season of Christmas has really begun in earnest.

Actually, it may be said that in the Philippines, our Christmas celebration begins as early as the first of the “ber” months, namely September. It is the time when we first begin to feel the cool air of the “ber” months after the warm month of August. We then also occasionally begin to hear the first Christmas carols! Some stores already start Chrstmas decorations around this month as a come-on to shoppers. It seems that no other Christian country in the world is known to begin the Christmas celebration as early as we do!

But it is when the the lanterns appear that tell us that the Christmas season has really begun in earnest in the Philippines.

What are these lanterns? The lanterns remind us of us of the star that guided the wise men or kings from afar coming to Behlehem to discover for themselves what their astrologers, or scientists have observed from the movements of the stars that indicated for them where the prophesied greatest king of the Jews has been born.

A few years back some biblical scholars came up with the idea that the coming of the “magi” or wise men must have been “midrash” meaning to say, a kind of myth made up by some Jewish authors. But more studies by Christian scholars and scientists have shown that these wise men are literally true base on what they discovered about historical events and scientific studies about the the arrangement of the stars at that time, particularly of the identity of the star that shone with unsusual brightness at this time.

The coming of these wise men is a good matter for contemplation.

Imagine them as they come upon the stable for animals where they they join the shepherds together with Mary and Joseph bend their heads in adoration and contemplation of the Christ Child lying in a manger. Unseen but present are the angels from heaven in their chorus of praise. This has become a most lovely and memorable scene among Christians, next to the Crucifixion of Christ.

This is also the the most frequently recreated in the visual arts as well as in music in their most sophisticated forms as composed by the greatest musicians in the world, as well as the simplest composers of Christmas songs for the enjoyment and inspiration for the most ordinary Christians of this most holy night.