As Advent approaches, families bring out their boxes of Christmas decorations and set out the Advent wreath. But consider a new tradition this year, inspired by multicultural celebrations of feast days throughout Advent.
Dec. 6 — Feast of St. Nicholas
Many European cultures celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas — also called St. Nicholas Day — including German, Polish, Ukrainian, Portuguese, and Dutch cultures.
Children set out their shoes the night before, and upon waking Dec. 6, rush to find their shoes filled with chocolate “gold coins,” or maybe even an orange. The gifts symbolize the gold that St. Nicholas gave anonymously to those in need.
Looking for an activity to celebrate St. Nicholas? St. Nicholas is a patron saint for bakers. The diocesan multicultural office’s “Gather at the Table” cookbook has some festive Advent recipes. Families may indulge their sweet tooth by baking “Schnecken” (German sticky pecan rolls). Embody St. Nicholas’ penchant for gift-giving by delivering the completed confections to an elderly neighbor or family member.
St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children, brides, grooms, sailors and travelers.
Dec. 12 — Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of three well-known Marian feast days during December. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception — a holy day of obligation — is Dec. 8 and the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto is Dec. 10.
In addition to attending Mass Dec. 8, Catholics might consider celebrating the Marian feast days with several Hispanic traditions.
One popular tradition involves singing “Las Mañanitas” on the eve before the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and throughout the day. “Las Mañanitas” is a traditional children’s song typically sung for a child’s birthday, and a tradition developed to sing it to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Some seven diocesan parishes will sing mañanitas Dec. 12. But prepare to wake up early — mañanitas traditionally are sung early in the morning, often as early as 4 or 5 a.m.
At All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas, mañanitas begin at 3:30 a.m., followed by a rosary. The early start time reminds Catholics that Mary appeared to St. Juan Diego in the early morning, according to Father Guillermo J. Gonzalez, parochial vicar. “People see it as a little offering to Our Lord, at least once a year,” he said.
Many parishes will host receptions with Mariachi music. St. Charles Church in Arlington will even host a procession with Mariachi music throughout downtown Arlington.
For an at-home celebration of the feast day, pray a family rosary and enjoy Mexican cuisine, with treats such as Mexican wedding cookies.
Celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe is the perfect way to start Advent, Father Gonzalez said. “One of the things that is really striking about the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is that she looks pregnant,” he said. “It’s just a way for us to prepare for Christmas.”
Dec. 13 — Feast of St. Lucy
If you have a daughter who loves dressing up, the Feast Day of St. Lucy is perfect.
The morning of Dec. 13, Swedish culture practices a tradition where the oldest daughter dresses as St. Lucy in a white dress with a red sash, the clothing symbolizing St. Lucy’s purity and martyrdom. Traditionally, she wears a wreath of candles on her head, however, those who wish to avoid house fires may want to omit lighting the candles. The daughter then serves her family breakfast pastries, including saffron buns or cinnamon buns.
For other Swedish treats, “Gather at the Table” has recipes for “Swedish Apple Pie” and “Swedish White Brownies.”
St. Lucy is the patron saint of the blind and those with eye disorders.
Dec. 16 — Simbang Gabi
Simbang Gabi, according to diocesan multicultural ministries Director Bridget Wilson, “is a roughly 400-year Filipino tradition that started out as a way for farmers to prepare for Christmas.” Due to the daylong intensity of farming, farmers could not attend the midday Masses. “So, they started to initiate these early dawn morning Masses,” she said.
Simbang Gabi, a Filipino term that means “Night Mass,” starts the evening of Dec. 15 with an anticipatory Mass, followed by daily Masses 4 or 5 a.m. through Christmas Eve. “In the Philippines, it is commonly called ‘Misa de Gallo,’ or ‘Mass of the Roosters,’ because they are celebrated when the roosters crow to announce the dawning of the new day,” said Deacon Ping Averia, deacon at St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax.
The Masses help the faithful follow the Holy Family’s journey to Bethlehem. “It is meant to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary for her ‘fiat’ and her role in the Incarnation,” said Deacon Averia.
Some 25 parishes will host a Simbang Gabi Mass this year, and many will host salu-salo receptions, featuring Filipino food and music.
If getting up every morning at 4 a.m. is not feasible, try crafting parol, or traditional star-shaped lanterns, often made from small bamboo rods and paper. Or whip up some delicious flan de leche or lumpia from the multicultural cookbook.
Ultimately, the novena of Masses reminds Catholics of the reason for the season during one of the busiest times of year. “Simbang Gabi is a very good reminder that it is not the material gifts that matter,” Deacon Averia said. “The baby Jesus comes humbly … born in a manger and will give himself up to die on the cross for our salvation.”
