Trivia About Filipino Christmas Traditions

1. Pinoy Parol

- this iconic Filipino Christmas lantern was originally made from bamboo strips carved into a five pointed star lantern and covered with papél de japón (Japanese paper) and illuminated by either a candle or a kalburo (carbide). This was originally crafted in 1908 by an artisan Francisco Estanislao and was originally used by townsfolk to light their paths during the ritual rooster dawn mass called misa de gallo or simbang gabi.


2. Filipino Christmas Carols

In the old Filipino Christmas traditions, some of the earliest Christmas songs were sung in Spanish. In the colonial Philippines, Spanish carols ("villacinco") were initially done during Mass but soon found their way to the streets due to its popularity. Much to the clergy’s disdain, some of the more-naughty carollers would insert less than devout lines and green jokes in the lyrics. Villancinco went out of style when Spanish rule ended, paving the way for carols done in English and the vernacular.
Before Christmas in our Hearts by Jose Mari Chan became a hit sensation, a Tagalog Christmas song is the most popular and almost a symbol of Pinoy Christmas carols. "Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit" is almost a household name during Christmas and is often the most used songs during carolling, parties and other Christmas related events. But did you know that this beautiful Christmas song was originally written and composed in Cebuano language. Entitled "Kasadya Ning Taknaa," it was written by Mariano Vestil and composed by Vicente Rubi in 1933.

The Tagalog version of the song was written by Levi Celerio and composed by Josefino Cenizal (who was also an actor) and was originally a marching song for the 1938 war film, Pugad ng Agila.

Did you know that the classical song "Payapang Daigdig" is actually a Filipino Christmas song equivalent to Father Josef Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber's Silent Night. The song was composed by national artist Felipe Padilla de Leon and was first sung during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in World War II. De Leon was said to have composed it after waking up seeing his most beloved city of Manila in ruins ravaged by the war. While it is not as lively and upbeat as the other Christmas songs, the somber theme of Payapang Daigdig was intended by de Leon to quell the Filipino public anxiety, its lyrics giving them hope in the face of uncertain times.


3. Simbang Gabi

This beautiful religious tradition is uniquely Filipino as the Philippines and the Filipino people are the only ones in the world to practice this nine-day early dawn mass. This Christmas tradition was first started in 1669 as a practical compromise for farmers, who began work before sunrise to avoid the noonday heat out in the fields. Pope Sixtus V ordered that Mass be heard before sunrise since it was the harvest season, and the farmers needed to be in the fields right after the celebration.

Since it started in 1669, did you know that Simbang Gabi was once banned in the Philippines from 1680 to 1689 due to a Vatican decree implemented by Manila Archbishop Felipe Pardo. It was also implemented in Spain, the Azores and Mexico and the reason for this decree roots from the churchgoers and choirs habit of singing Christmas songs in their native language. During those times, singing in vernacular was only allowed during the entrance and recessional songs. The decree deemed this practice as perverse and ordered the suppression of the services. However, following the death of Pardo, the clergymen except the Discalced Franciscans resumed the practice.



4. Unusual Filipino Christmas Celebrations

One Barangay in Iloilo celebrates Christmas in a cemetery. The dead can join Christmas fun as far as the folks in Barangay Tanza in Iloilo City is concerned. The barangay or the community which houses a cemetery decorate the area with lots of Christmas symbols and other decorations like lanterns, Christmas trees, light and nativity scene and the idea was conceptualized in December 2014. The graveyard workers who initiated the event originally only wanted a Christmas party but were later convinced to make it a wider aspect and hold a Christmas decoration contest to make their planned gatherings even livelier. According to the caretakers, the celebration should also include not only the living but also the dead. Visitors to the cemetery welcome the sight with some of them even staying inside the cemetery late at night to enjoy the view.


5. Christmas Cards

The first Christmas cards in the Philippines were made by Manuel Rodriguez Sr., widely regarded as the Father of Contemporary Printmaking in the Philippines. He produced what could be described as the first truly Filipino themed Christmas cards in the 1950s printed a set containing pictures of the simbang gabi, Filipino  churchgoers and carolers.


6. Christmas Tree

The idea of decorating a tree for Christmas first came to the Philippines much earlier than 20th century. Jose Rizal first mentioned it in its 1886 drawing of a Christmas tree, his interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen's "Little Fir Tree".

In a letter in Berlin for his eldest sister, he said:

“(The Christmas tree) is decorated with tinsel, paper, lights, dolls, candy, fruits, dainties, etc., and at night time, it is shown to the children, and around this tree the family celebrates Christmas.”



Source: 

Filipiknow.net 


Photo Source: 

Rappler 
Philippine Star 
Entrepreneur Philippines