The Significance of Panunuluyan
As the Church opens its doors to the faithful, Christmas traditions start to come back as well. One of the Filipino Christmas traditions includes the Panunuluyan. Tracing back to the Spanish colonial era, Panunuluyan is a dramatization of Mary and Joseph’s search for Bethlehem right before the birth of Jesus Christ. Generally held on Christmas Eve, the tradition basically prepares Filipinos of the Catholic faith for the midnight Mass.
The Significance of Panunuluyan
The Panunuluyan, in Filipino tradition, remains less musical. Mary and Joseph travel from Nazareth. On the way, on the other hand, Mary started to go into labor as they arrived in Bethlehem. They started to look for homes and inns but they continue to face rejections again and again. Mary’s labor comes closer and they received a place where they can spend the night – a barn.
It was not a place where you typically give birth to a person, what more to the Son of God? Mary placed Jesus in the manger. This is a representation that Jesus will be the Lamb of God. God will offer Him to save humankind. A manger is where animals eat. A feeder for the barn animals. Another thing is that Bethlehem translates to the house of bread.
During contemporary times…
The Panunuluyan is a timeless reflection of our society, contributing to what truly is the essence of Christmas. Yes, we pray and we celebrate the holiday. But, do we see a change in ourselves? In times that we encounter those in need, do we help them? Oftentimes, they ask for the littlest things from us. But, then, again, we turn a blind eye to them. How big is a cup of water to the thirsty? To visit those who are sick, imprisoned, or to the orphans? Those who are hungry for justice?
Oftentimes, too, we take for granted the things in our lives. We are denying our skills, wit, or treasure to other people. Because we don’t want to be disturbing other people. At times we are denying these things because we don’t want our skills, our wit, and our graces to be reduced. For we are scared that we become too proud, that they may be the ones praised, but it should be ourselves.
It is an image that is still relevant in this contemporary times. We deny help to those who needed it. We deny acknowledging the marginalized, their needs, their safety, and their cries for help. That is why the story of Mary and Joseph reminds us of the true essence of Christmas. It is to love. As Mary and Joseph knock at our hearts, asking for help, what should we do?
The journey of Mary and Joseph was hard. Imagine traveling for miles and miles on foot and with a livestock companion. It was not easy. For they were rejected by every inn they knocked. Still, they continue to have faith that they will overcome this hardship. The midnight mass of the birth of Christ is following the Panunuluyan.
