Filipino Desserts

Philippines is known to have the longest yet merriest Christmas in the world. A part of the longest Filipino Christmas season is the traditional Simbang Gabi. This is a time when Catholic churches across the nation open the church doors shortly before he break of dawn to welcome faithfuls to the Simbang Gabi.

Simbang Gabi and its Meaning

Simbang Gabi when translated to English means Mass at Dawn. Simbang Gabi goes by another term made famous by its famous Spanish name as the Misa de Gallo or “mass of the rooster”. It holds a special place in the observance of a Filipino Christmas. The tradition of Simbang Gabi is to complete the series of nine-day novena to the Blessed Mary. The annual novena begins at the dawn of 16th of December and continues until Christmas Eve.

Simbang Gabi is part of the Filipino tradition when observing the season of Christmas. It is one of the longest and most popular traditions in the Philippines. This is a time when Catholic churches across the country open the door shortly before the break of dawn to ushers in the faithful to the Simbang Gabi mass. It is symbolical to Catholics since it commemorates the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. It is quite traditional to see the “panuluyan” reenacted during the mass as an effort to show how Joseph and Mary found a birthplace.

Origin

Simbang Gabi was started following its roots in Mexico way back 1587. In 1587, the Pope granted the petition of Fray Diego de Soria, before the covenant of San Agustin Acolman, to hold Mass outdoors during Christmas. The Church then could not accommodate the large number of people who attended the evening mass. During the old times, the pre-dawn mass is usually announced by the ringing of the church bells. In some rural areas, a brass band would play loud Christmas music loud enough to be heard all across town. It also was believed parish priests would go house to house to knock doors to wake and call all people to attend Misa de Gallo. The large number of people in attendance consists mostly of fishermen who pray for a good harvest when they hear mass before going out to the sea to fish.

The Modern Simbang Gabi

Up to this modern time, Simbang Gabi continues to live on in Catholic churches in the Philippines. It is a tradition upholded and celebrated in many ways. Christmas is felt everywhere even at churches where lanterns or parols with colorful lights fill every streets and every window. Christmas songs are played everywhere to warm the hearts. Families, friends, lovers and relatives frequent to the nearest local church to attend the nine day novena of Simbang Gabi.

Simbang Gabi has a strong association to the Filipino’s love of food. Shortly after the mass, traditional delicacies winds its way and are sold in stalls outside the church. It is usual to see Filipino favorites like bibingka (rice cake), puto bungbong, suman sa pasko, suman sa ibos served with tea or coffee. Breakfast roll or hot pandesal are also a popular breakfast food among Filipinos.  Filipino often hurry home to spend time with their family when the last Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi has ended. The usual yet special Filipino food and Filipino desserts often served during noche buena are queso de bola or edam cheese, tsokolate or hot native chocolate drink jamon en dulce or ham, pancit, barbeque, lechon or suckling pig, Western and native cakes, lumpia, rice among many others.

The Message of Simbang Gabi

Simbang Gabi is more than an old tradition that needs to be observed and celebrated because we need to do so. Simbang Gabi continues to be a significant moment where it strengthens the relationships among family members and a time to restrengthen our faith in God. This is a special time when we feel the loving presence of our Lord and a spiritual preparation for Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. Most Filipinos believe a sincere wish is granted after completing the nine series of masses. It does not matter, however, when one fails to attend the Simbang Gabi from December 16 up to Christmas Eve or the total of nine dawn masses. The blessings given by the Lord does not depend on the number of masses attended. What really matters is what lies inside the heart and the sincerity and morale to the person who receives the Lord’s blessing.

Technorati Tags: Christmas mass, misa de gallo, noche buena, Philippine Christmas, simbang gabi

What would happen to a festive Christmas celebration without any food served on your dining table?  Food is an integral part of Christmas in the Philippines and anywhere in the world.  Filipinos have long accepted the Christmas tradition of celebrative elements meshed together. It is a product of adapted elements from other cultures: the food and fire crackers from Chinese culture; Christmas ideas from Spain and Christianity hence “Belen” and Novena Masses at the break of dawn; the American concept of Christmas tree , Santa Claus, greeting cards and sunny wrapped presents.  Let’s discover how these are elements blends perfectly accompanied by a unique and sweet flavor of Christmas food in Filipino-style.

What can you usually find on a midnight table during Christmas in the Philippines?  Christmas is often spent with Filipino food whatever the family loves and whatever they can afford. The spirit of Christmas is often unaffected whether they can afford delectable dishes or an average line of Filipino food and dishes.  A night of delicious goodness known as Noche Buena is a midnight meal commonly shared by the nuclear family, not commonly shared with guests after the midnight Mass.  A typical yet special Christmas in the Philippines is nothing without the usual fare of the sticky sweet rice derived Filipino desserts and so many more.  It is definitely from the indigenous tradition having many rice cakes in the forms of biko, suman, puto maya, putong lusong, tupig patupat, linapet.  It is no surprise to taste assorted kinds of rice cakes since the harvest was celebrated with rice.

Simbang Gabi Sweet Treats

Out of the many Filipino desserts, there are two rice-based delicacies that remain closely associated with Christmas - bibingka and puto bumbong.  Once you see them cooked and sold on the streets in the crisp cold night breeze, it signals that the yuletide season is near.  Back in the old days, these delicacies are commonly sold near church gates for mass goers to take home when the simbang gabi is concluded.  At the present time, these Filipino snacks are readily sold in every street corner at around September and could be the whole year round in some places.  For us Filipinos, nothing beats having bibingka and puto bumbong with native hot chocolate or coffee on the break of morning after Simbang Gabi or midnight mass.

Modern Filipino desserts

Christmas season especially in the urban areas is often compromised much more in families where wives are also career woman who juggles her time between work and family.  This sprouted the availability of delicacies as staples of Spanish bakeshops like Dulcinea, giant ensaymadas as house specialty of Hizon’s, one of the oldest surviving bakeshops in Manila, ensaymadas of mall-established Goldilocks and in other local bakeshops.  The native rice cakes can be found in markets, bakeshops, hotel cake shops and restaurants.  Fruitcakes are also made and sold in bake shops, coffee shops and restaurants usually packaged in nice and fancy boxes given as gifts or served during the noche buena.  Some shops are especially busy during the Christmas as makers of sweets - pastilles de leche, turrones - who secures sufficient stocks for feasting and gift-giving.

The essence of Christmas is family time along with the food shared in noche buena, a part of Filipino traditions.  The sweet and rich Christmas delicacies have been integrated into the menu of hotels and restaurants during Christmas Eve dinners or Christmas lunches.  Guests and visitors who happen to be in the Philippines in Christmas time can taste and savor these delicious Filipino desserts.    Traveling and visiting another foreign country are all about experiencing how the locals lead their lifestyles and traditions.  Christmas being one of those traditions and markings as one of the Filipino’s most precious statements as what they genuinely are.

Technorati Tags: bibingka puto bumbong, Filipino Christmas, Filipino Desserts, filipino food, Filipino snacks, Filipino tradition, philippines, simbang gabi