Crafting traditional decoration helps local Filipinos prepare for Christmas novena
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WEST JORDAN — Creating the symbol of a centuries-old tradition brought several dozen members of the Misang Bayan Utah Filipino community together on Oct. 26 in St. Joseph the Worker Parish’s Sister Fabian Hall.
They cut papers into strips and patterns, placed thin sticks of bamboo into the shape of a star, glued layers of the paper strips onto the form, laid colored cellophane into the openings and added tiny lights to create a parol – a lantern representing the Star of Bethlehem that is the symbol of Christmas in the Philippines.
The parols are used as decoration during the Simbang Gabi, a novena of Masses celebrated during the nine days preceding Christmas. Traditionally the Masses were celebrated very early in the morning, and the parols are symbolic of the lanterns used by Filipino fishermen and farmers to light their way to the church.
The tradition now is celebrated all over the world; it began in Utah in 2010. The Misang Bayan community coordinates the Masses so that they are celebrated at different parishes throughout the novena. The parols are hung in the church as decoration prior to the Mass; one large parol is carried in procession at the beginning of Mass, and an explanation about the tradition of the Simbang Gabi is read during the procession.
Jun Enriquez, who has been involved with the Simbang Gabi since it was first celebrated in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, said he is glad to be able to share his cultural tradition with the wider community.
Making parols now is “more for the younger generation,” he said, but also “it’s part of celebrating Christmas.”
For many of those gathered in the parish hall, the activity brought back memories of making parols in grade school, where there often was a contest that awarded the prettiest one, Knorrie Tolentino said.
“It’s a tradition in the Philippines,” said Arlita Llenares as she cut paper into strips in the company of Tolentino and several others. “This really brings back memories. And we love doing it, especially being in a community, in a group. It’s really fun.”
“It’s like remembering home,” said Lovely Enriquez, who was born in the Philippines but lived in Dubai before moving to Utah two years ago.
She remembers making parols when she was growing up, and is glad now to be able to pass the tradition on to her daughter Ericka, who was trying her hand at it for the first time.
“I love it,” said Ericka Enriquez, a 10th-grader. “Some people don’t really want to embrace their Filipino culture, but I love it, personally. In Utah you don’t really get many opportunities to celebrate this kind of stuff, and it’s nice to, like, get a taste of home sometimes.”
Similarly, Lidia Yarisantos brought her son to the event because “I wanted him to learn more about his culture,” she said. She grew up away from her extended family, so she feels that it’s important for her son to be around the Filipino community, she said. “I want him to feel part of something bigger.”
Diocesan Simbang Gabi Mass Schedule
The theme is Lakbay Pag-asa (Pilgrims of Hope).
All Masses are at 7 p.m. except where otherwise noted.
Dec. 15: (4 p.m.) St. Lawrence Catholic Mission, 5 South 100 West, Heber
Dec. 16: Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 257 North 700 West, SLC
Dec. 17: St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 7405 S. Redwood, West Jordan
Dec. 18: St. Martin De Porres Catholic Church, 4914 South 2200 West, Taylorsville
Dec. 19: St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1058 West 400 South, SLC
Dec. 20: St. Peter Catholic Church, 634 Caveman Blvd., American Fork
Dec. 21: (5 p.m.) St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 3015 E. Creek Rd.
Cottonwood Heights
Dec. 22: (4 p.m.) Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1745 East 9800 South, Sandy
Dec. 23: St. Olaf Catholic Church, 276 East 170 South, Bountiful
Pasko ng Bayan (Christmas Day Mass)
Dec. 25: (3:30 p.m.) Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 670 South 1100 East, SLC
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