Jesus Christ, not Santa Claus, is coming to town.
Instead of Santas and Christmas trees, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is urging the faithful to make the Nativity (belen) the centerpiece of the season and to hang the traditional star lantern (parol) outside their homes instead of Advent wreaths.
Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar issued the statement in time for the beginning of Advent, which begins four Sundays before December 25, when Christians across the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
The first Sunday of Advent was observed in Masses on Sunday.
“During the Christmas season, we are celebrating the coming of Christ, not Santa Claus,” said Odchimar, the outgoing CBCP president. He will be replaced by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma before the year ends.
Christ-centered Christmas
With the “secularization” and “commercialization” of Christmas, there is a need to put Christ back into the hearts and consciousness of the people, Odchimar said.
He observed that Filipinos had become more focused on putting up Christmas trees and figurines of Santa Claus rather than on reflecting what the season is really all about.
“We have deviated from the central point which is Jesus Christ, [the observance] has become more external than internal,” lamented the bishop.
There is nothing wrong with decorating homes with sparkling ornaments, beautiful Christmas trees and glowing and dancing lights, Odchimar was quick to add. But all these are mere expressions of “what is something internal…the joy of the commemoration of the coming of Jesus Christ,” he said in an interview with reporters on Friday at the CBCP office in Intramuros, Manila.
Last year, the CBCP encouraged Filipinos to mount the traditional “belen” (the nativity scene) in their homes or shops as the centerpiece of their Christmas decorations. In this way, the people will be reminded that the Christmas season must be “Christ-centered,” the CBCP had stated.
Parol ng Halina
Early this week, another bishop advocated the use of parol (star lanterns) to celebrate the season, instead of the usual Advent wreaths—a more westernized form of observance.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said the practice of using Advent wreaths came from Protestant traditions in Europe, while the parol is “the most popular symbol of our Filipino Christmas tradition.”
“In consultation with liturgists who advocate Filipino expressions of our Catholic faith, we want to offer the parol ng halina (Advent parols) as an alternative to the European Advent wreath,” Villegas said in a statement.
He said each of the four Advent parols may be lighted inside churches for every week in the Advent season, “the third parol being colored rose or pink, while the three others purple as usual.”
“With the introduction of the parol ng halina, the practice of having a white parol travel from one end of the church to eventually stop on top of the crib during the Christmas midnight Mass will also become more relevant and meaningful,” Villegas said.
“I propose the parol ng halina for your consideration. The important thing to remember is to help our people celebrate meaningfully the Advent season in a way that is truly Catholic and truly Filipino,” he said.
Villegas noted that although coming from the Protestant traditions of Europe, the practice of having Advent wreaths in Catholic homes and churches has been adopted by many in the Catholic Church.
“While we do not prohibit the continuation of this tradition, may I respectfully offer an alternative to the Advent wreath that may be more relevant and meaningful for the Filipino Catholic,” he said.
Villegas said the parol, which is usually designed as a star, is reminiscent of the Star of Bethlehem.
“It calls to mind the search of the wise men in the Gospel of Matthew, ‘Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him,’” Villegas said.