SALT LAKE CITY — Catholic Filipinos in the state shared their traditions to help welcome the birth of Jesus Christ in the days leading up to Christmas.
One of the Catholic doctrines, called enculturation, encourages people to bring their cultural traditions to wherever they live.
Because of this, Utah Filipinos held Simbang Gabi, a nine-day Advent novena, or set of prayers, at nine Catholic churches in the state between Dec. 15 and Dec. 23.
During the 2014 Simbang Gabi in Utah, adult-child pairs carried stars — handmade from bamboo, tissue paper and cellophane — and hung them in the chapels they visited.
"The real importance of the Simbang Gabi is to welcome the Savior on Christmas day," said Raul Yumul, a Filipino Catholic who helps organize the Utah Simbang Gabi.
There are an estimated 2,500 Filipinos in the state, according to Intermountain Catholic. Roughly 40 percent of Utah's Filipinos are Catholic.
Simbang Gabi began in the 16th century when Spaniards came to the Philippines in an attempt to evangelize and conquer the mostly Muslim country, Yumul said. Services were held early in the morning so the Filipino community of farmers and fishers could attend before work.
According to tradition, back when Simbang Gabi began, many of the Filipinos would carry lamps to light their way to church. In an effort to keep the wind from extinguishing their flames, the Filipinos created star-shaped lanterns, or parols. The stars also serve as a symbol of the star of Bethlehem.
Contributing: Tanner Lloyd
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