My first Misa de Gallo
Filed under culture, personal, religion
Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi is a traditional evening mass in the Philippines, held at the crack of dawn from December 16 to December 24. It’s very much a part of the Christmas celebration of Filipinos that people make it a point to be there everyday for nine days. I’m not Catholic, though, so I never went to one growing up. I only read about it in books and heard about it from friends, and to me it sounded like a fun and colorful tradition.
So when my roommate announced that she was going to the Misa de Gallo this year, I volunteered to go with her. She had a laughing fit when I said that; she thought it was a big joke because I usually wake up at past nine, the earliest. The few times that she tried to wake me up earlier than that (sometimes I ask her to–I usually don’t hear my alarm clocks), she would fail, even if waking me up sometimes becomes a physical feat for her (wrist-grabbing, pinching–those stuff).
But lo, I woke up at 4 a.m. the following day! I even woke up earlier than her. Ha! The church is just behind our house, so we didn’t bother dressing up. I thought we were early, but the church was overflowing with people when we got there. We had to stand the entire hour that the mass was on. And I thought people would go there floating and sleepy like I was, but I was mistaken. They were every bit serious and alert during the mass.
I brought a camera with me, but it seemed rude to take photos during such a solemn tradition. With my hope of taking photos gone, I looked around for the most vivid detail that I remembered from what I read–food (of course!).
They say people usually eat Filipino delicacies like puto-bumbong, kutsinta, and hot chocolate after Misa de Gallo. I saw some vendors outside the church but the sight wasn’t what I expected. I had expected a big Filipino breakfast right after the mass, during which people eat and talk, but it seemed to me that everyone was in a hurry to go home and had no plans of milling around.
My roommate says it must be because we live in a modern city. She said that back in her hometown in Negros, free breakfast is usually served right after Misa de Gallo. Maybe she’s right. We live in metropolitan Cebu, after all, so what was I thinking?
My roommate tried to drag me out of bed the following day, but one early-morning mass is enough for me. I’m glad though that I got to experience it. I think it’s a good tradition.
Comments
Happy Holidays, Aileen!!! –mula sa asawa ni Arleen
Other people attend all the masses from Dec 16 to 24. They believe that if they have complete attendance, their wishes will come true. I remember doing the same thing when I was still in high school. I was a sacristan before. Only, I don’t anymore remember what I wished for and if it came true.
Merry Christmas, Aileen!
@TK
happy holidays din sa iyo!!
@abaniko
merry christmas to you, too!
yep. reminds me of the movie 9 Mornings, the only tagalog movie i ever saw.
i tried this twice in my life… don’t know if i can do it again. sarap matulog during this season…
happy holidays, aileen!
sinabi mo pa! it must be the cold. sarap mag-snuggle under the covers. hehe.
happy new year! let’s rock 2009! excited na ako.
Never completed this one in my life.
Kapoy bangon. ;]
mao gyud.
sa amin sa tundo noong aktibo pa ko sa simbahan, madalas pagkatapos ng misa tuloy kami sa isang bahay, umaapaw ang pagkain parang pyesta sa tuwing umaga, minsan naman dahil nasa choir ako..didiretso kami sa isang tindahan at doon sama samang kakain.
libre ba yung kainan sa bahay? ang sarap naman non. kami ng roommate ko naghanap na lang kami ng tapsilogan.
I completed it Christmas 2008 pano naman kasi after my class at 2am diretso na prepare for mass so walang late and absences hehe… For me it’s just a little sacrifice for Jesus Christ and it feels so fulfilling completing all 9 mornings ^_^
In Ateneo Davao after mass, they give free breakfast to people too ^_^
huwaw. na-complete mo? amazing ha. nasa ESL ka pa rin ba ngayon?
yup, pero homebased na aq but working in a french company teaching europeans the english language ^_^
btw, i tagged u from my last entry, hope ud join ^_^ pls check, tnx!
di ko mahilig sa tags eh. pero sige na nga.
by the way, may facebook ka ba?
1st of all: CONGRATS!
wla pa aq facebook pro my students are insisting i make one ^_^
thank you ate.
sige na, gawa ka na. now na! tapos add moko. hehe. andon din si ate jacq.
Wow! Nag-attend ka talaga ng Misa de Gallo ha! Amazing. Hehehe.
Okay siya na tradition. Matagal na rin akong di nakakagawa nun. I’ll try to this year.
Bago na pala ang link ko bru.
akala ko naman sinong jen.
sige, punta ako sa site mo.