What is Simbang Gabi?
Simbang Gabi literally means “evening or night mass.” As a devotional practice, it refers to the Philippine Catholic tradition of the “novena,” a series of nine evening masses celebrated during the Advent season from Dec. 15-23, in preparation for Christmas Day—in the Philippines, the dates are from Dec. 16-24, since Simbang Gabi is held in the early morning. In the U.S., the practice of the Simbang Gabi has been adapted to local conditions, with the mass being moved to the evening hours for practical reasons.