Christian Filipinos, who constitute the religious majority in the Philippines (population 110 million), ask the question: How do we celebrate Christmas this year amid the coronavirus pandemic which has killed thousands and infected thousands more?
In the denominations of Western Christianity, the term "Christmas season" is synonymous with Christmastide, from December 25 to January 5 (Twelfth Night or Epiphany Eve), popularly known as the 12 Days of Christmas.
In secular culture, the season begins around Halloween and ends on December 26. But in the Roman Catholic Church, the liturgical season of Christmas only begins on December 25 and lasts much longer.
The historical Christmas cycle extends even past the Baptism of the Lord. Traditionally the feast of Candlemas – the Presentation of the Lord — occurs on February 2 and marks the final conclusion of the “Christmas cycle.”
Candlemas celebrates the event that occurred 40 days after Jesus’ birth and was his first introduction to the Temple – the final “baby Jesus” feast day on the Church’s liturgical calendar.
Catholic bishops say, “The liturgical season of Christmas begins with the vigil Masses on Christmas Eve and concludes on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. During this season, we celebrate the birth of Christ into our world and into our hearts, and reflect on the gift of salvation that is born with him… including the fact that he was born to die for us.”
The latest that the Baptism of the Lord can occur is January 13. The season of Ordinary Time starts on the day after this feast which means that, typically, the Christmas season runs roughly from December 25 to January 13.
But how must we celebrate the season, with health protocols – which include strict physical distancing and avoiding crowds – being imposed by the authorities through the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases?
This week, while nearly 430,000 have recovered from infections, more than 9,000 have died since the lockdown in March and more than 463,000 are still suffering from infections.
With the Christmas celebration a paramount part of the culture of Christian Filipinos many, children including, would understandably be blown out of the water with many prevented from doing what for years they had been doing in previous Christmas celebrations, now a castle in the air, like caroling, attending the traditional Midnight masses for nine nights.
But the observance of Christmas this season should not be dampened by the implementation of protocols, which should in fact be observed by everyone for everybody's health and safety.
Christmas this season should not, despite the pandemic, prevent the majority from spreading hope, peace, joy and love – where the essence and simplicity of the milestone should not be lost on them, reminded yet again that the Lord was born in a manger with his mother and father.
May the majority find in their hearts a room for the Lord and Redeemer, and may their lives reflect the presence of the Son of God, with each Christian home radiating a sense of peace, enormous faith, hope, compassion and love.