SIMBANG GABI (9 DAY FILIPINO VOTIVE MASS)

The First Simbang Gabi Votive Mass by Suffragan Bishop Rogelio of the Diocese of Luzon, Manila, Philippines

Text by the Rt. Rev. Fr. Paulinus Molina (Ancient Church of the West)

Simbang Gabi is a devotional nine-day series of Eucharistic liturgies practiced by Filipino Christians in the Philippines in anticipation of Christmas. This is similar to the nine-day series of dawn services leading to Christmas Eve practiced in the Hispanic world. 

Similar to the Spanish tradition of lighting small oil lamps on Christmas Eve, Filipinos adorn their homes with paról, which are colourful star-shaped lantern. This is believed to have originally been used by worshippers to light their way to church in the early morning, as well as to symbolise the Star of Bethlehem. Paróls continue to be popular yuletide decorations in the Philippines, as iconic and emblematic as Christmas trees are in the West.