‘Tis the season to go and herald the Yuletide cheer!
The cool breeze of December calls for all to prepare for Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ, and enjoin in its feast. Here in the Philippines, various traditions are being made by Filipinos to celebrate the holidays, such as attending Simbang gabi and setting up noche buena. Yet every so often this time around, one might come to hear children, carrying their tansan tambourines and improvised tambol, singing some carols outside their homes. The music of the season has never failed to ignite the cheerful mood that blends with the serene setting of the streets.
Christmas carols were traced to Rome in the 4th century. Poems, such as Of the Father’s Love Begotten by Prudentius, spoke of Jesus as the Lord’s begotten son. Though reflective of the themes present in today’s Christmas music, the texts written were made at a time where the Christian church was struggling to find its own doctrine. Nevertheless, Christ as the Son of God became the prevalent narrative – which continued to serve as its basis.
Over time, Christianity was introduced across Europe. In the 13th century, St. Francis of Assisi introduced the nativity plays which were accompanied by the singing of a Christmas carol. He also encouraged people to write them in their own language. This began the tradition of heralding the season, retelling the story of Christ’s birth through a song.
In the Philippines, Christmas music was introduced by the Spaniards in the form of villancicos, a liturgical song that invites people to celebrate Christ’s birth. These were written and sung in Spanish for the mass. These were later adopted by Filipino composers through translations of their original texts.
Americans later brought their own form of Christmas music. This period gave birth to the enduring “Kasadya ning Taknaa,” first written in 1933 by Cebuano composer Vicente Rubi. This gave form to the Levi Celerio-translated “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit.” Both versions invite the people to prepare for Christ’s coming and hope for better days in the new year.
As time passed, various Christmas songs in Filipino began to emerge that became staples of the season’s music. Among them are Serapio Ramos’s “Himig Pasko,” Levi Celerio’s “Namamasko,” Leo Valdez’s “Kampana ng Simbahan” and the Ryan Cayabyab-penned “Kumukutikutitap.”
In 1990, composer Jose Mari Chan, fresh from his successful comeback album “Constant Change,” released an all-Christmas album which featured his enduring composition—a duet with his daughter—that heralded the people to rejoice in anticipating the Yuletide season. “Christmas in our Hearts” warmed the hearts of Filipino listeners, which proved its popularity until today.
As Christmas is fast approaching, people of all ages are now heralding the community to prepare for Christ’s birth. Carols being sung at this time serve as a reminder that the holidays are here, embarking a form of excitement in its anticipation. The festive themes from these songs must lead us to, as a traditional carol would suggest, celebrate the season even after December 25.
