Woooohoooo….. This is my first time to complete the 9 days of Simbang Gabi.

SIMBANG GABI is one of the longest and most popular among the Filipino traditions in the country. It is when Catholic churches across the nation start to open their doors shortly before the break of dawn to welcome the faithful to the Simbang Gabi mass. Simbang Gabi or Mass at Dawn is a nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother. The novena begins December 16 as early as 4 in the morning and culminates with the “Misa de Gallo” on Christmas Eve to welcome the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. In some churches, the panuluyan is reenacted showing the effort of Joseph and Mary to find a suitable birthplace.

What is unique in our tradition is after the mass finishes, we can get to taste our native Filipino delicacies such as Salabat, Puto Bumbong, Bibingka, and many others that nowadays these foods are merely served during regular days and can only seen during Christmas seasons.

If ever you’ve miss to attend this one of a kind Filipino tradition, then be better luck for next time. You will have to wait for atleast a year. Many believes that if ever you will complete the 9 days run of simbang gabi, whatever you wish for and no matter how difficult as it is, it will come true. But let us not to forget the true meaning of simbang gabi is to prepare and celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.