Simbang Gambi is a Novena right before Christmas! I attended my first one this year. "Simbang Gabi" translates to "Night Mass" in English, and is a Filipino Catholic tradition of attending nine consecutive dawn masses in the days leading up to Christmas, essentially a Christmas Novena; it is also sometimes called "Misa de Gallo" (Mass of the Rooster) due to the early morning timing.
Ang Pasko ay Sumapit - We have a beautiful tradition in our local community (which has quite a large filipino majority) to sing this happy joyful song with clapping at the end of the Mass at Christmas!Our family loves it and we I have tried to learn and adopt some of the beautiful cultures all around me.
Here are the lyrics: Ang Pasko ay Sumapit
Ang Pasko ay sumapit Tayo ay mangagsiawit
Ng magagandang himig Dahil sa Diyos ay pag-ibig
Nang si Kristo'y isilang May tatlong haring nagsidalaw
At ang bawat isa Ay nagsipaghandog ng tanging alay
Bagong taon ay magbagong-buhay Nang lumigaya ang ating bayan
Tayo'y magsikap upang makamtan natin ang kasaganahan
Tayo'y mangagsiawit Habang ang mundo'y tahimik
Ang araw ay sumapit Sa sanggol na dulot ng langit
Tayo ay magmahalan Ating sundin ang gintong aral
At magbuhat ngayon kahit hindi pasko ay magbigayan
Bagong taon ay magbagong-buhay Nang lumigaya ang ating bayan
Tayo'y magsikap upang makamtan natin ang kasaganahan
Tayo'y mangagsiawit Habang ang mundo'y tahimik
Ang araw ay sumapit Sa sanggol na dulot ng langit
Tayo ay magmahalan Ating sundin ang gintong aral
At magbuhat ngayon kahit hindi pasko ay magbigayan
--Translation by Google --
Christmas has come We will sing Of beautiful tunes Because God is love When Christ was born
Three kings visited And each other He offered the only offering New year is a new life
When our people were happy
Let's work hard so that we can achieve abundance
Let's sing While the world is silent
The day came To the baby born of heaven We will love each other Let's follow the golden lesson
And lift up today even if it's not Christmas to give!
New year is a new life When our people were happy
Let's work hard so that we can achieve abundance
Let's sing While the world is silent The day came To the baby born of heaven
Let's follow the golden lesson
And lift up today even if it's not Christmas to give
https://youtu.be/xPP2_4y8HAo?si=44askKTdrL9_QwR1
I even try to make the beautiful parols (lanterns) I think they are beautiful and represent the star and the tail that the wisemen followed to Bethlehem.