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- Title:
- Christmas A Must
- Description:
- On June 1, 1537 (before Miguel Lopez de Legaspi began settling Filipinas for Spain in 1565 and while Mexico was being converted) Pope Paul 3 in his bull ALTITUDO DIVINI CONSILII listed the feasts newly converted natives were obliged to observe. Christmas, the Circumcision, and the Epiphany (3 Kings) were included. Required fasting and abstention were less for Indios also. Christmas was a “three crosses” feast, meaning having highest rank. Colonials could not force natives to work on those days and were to have them hear mass. Food unlike the everyday and with sweets was important to making a feast special and communal or societal. Indios were considered children in their understanding of Roman Catholicism so shouldn’t be required the same as persons from long-time Christian societies. Morga explained that civic feasts included May 19, Sta. Potenciana’s Day when Spaniards won Maynilad; November 13, Saint Andrew’s Day when the colonials drove the pirate Limahong away after he did much damage, as well as festivals related to the monarch.
- Subjects:
- Christianity Christmas
- Exhibition:
- Antonio Morga 30
- Source:
- A bricolage with blown glass miniatures and a Holy Baby Jesus under a glass virina. Courtesy of Intramuros Administration in HOUSEHOLD ANTIQUES & HEIRLOOMS by Felice Sta. Maria (Manila: GCF Books, 1983.
- Type:
- Image;Still Image
- Format:
- image/jpeg
Source
- Preferred Citation:
- "Christmas A Must", Philippine Food History, Felice P. Sta. Maria
- Reference Link:
- felicepstamaria.net/items/coll079.html