9 Churches in Manila to Visit for Simbang Gabi
'Simbang Gabi' (Night Mass) is a Christmas tradition
of hearing mass for nine consecutive days, December 16 to December 24,
and is widely practiced in the country by the Catholics. Also called 'Misa de Gallo'
(Spanish for 'Rooster's Mass'), Simbang Gabi is traditionally held as a
novena of dawn Masses, but Churches also have anticipated Masses held
during the previous night.
This tradition traces back during the Spanish era as dawn Masses for
the farmers before they begin their work early in the morning. Now,
almost every Church (if not all) in Manila that celebrate Simbang Gabi
have food stalls awaiting hungry parishioners after celebrating
Mass--Christmas favorites such as puto bumbong and bibingka are made fresh and served hot, paired best with hot coffee and tsokolate. Another tradition practiced by many parishioners is to make a wish after completing all nine days of Simbang Gabi.
