Misa de Gallo 2017 - The Filipino Catholic Tradition

This is the 1st day
​of Misa de Gallo 2017
at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño
de Cebu, Philippines.

The umbrellas showed that the 1st day of Misa de Gallo at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu, Philippines was a rainy Saturday morning.

View more images here

Misa de Gallo 
is a yearly Catholic tradition
by Filipinos here in the Philippines.
For nine consecutive days,
in anticipation of the birth of Jesus
beginning on December 16,
Filipinos wake up very early 
in the morning 
to attend the Holy Masses
which will end its nine-day celebration
on December 24.
Families and relatives
usually fill the churches 
during these dates
and also young people in their teens. 
The Holy Masses 
usually starts at 4:00 AM or 4:30
depending on the churches
and held at the grounds right outside
to accommodate the huge number.
And the 1st day
has always been gathering the largest crowd
of all the nine days.

Misa de Gallo 
is the time of the year
when people attend masses
for more consecutive days
that in any other time.
Normally,
most Catholics attend on Sundays only
while few,
on any day of the week.
There is one lasting belief 
that completing the whole nine days
of Misa de Gallo
will bless you with answered prayers
and make your wishes come true.
This is maybe true
but it's not about completing the nine days
but it's all about being good
all the time.
Waking up very early in the morning
for nine consecutive days
is a sacrifice
but if you compare it to the whole year
consisting of 365 days,
those nine days are almost nothing.
If we talk about sacrifice
so that our prayers will be answered
and our wishes will come true,
then don't just attend Holy Masses
during Misa de Gallo,
​but all the days of the year.

Watch the video
of the 1st day of Misa de Gallo 2017
right below.