Christmas cultures and traditions around the Worcester Diocese

By Tanya Connor and Bill Doyle
The Catholic Free Press  

Ethnic communities’ traditions enliven Christmastime in the Worcester Diocese. Some leaders shared a sampling of this year’s activities.
Father Enoch K. Kyeremateng, chaplain of the diocese’s African ministry, set the stage with the reason for the season – Jesus.
“Christmas is [when] we celebrate the Nativity – God becoming ... like us, taking a human form to take away the sins of mankind and to draw us closer to himself,” he noted.
So, for Africans, Christmas is a “very joyful family event; it’s an occasion for families to come together to give thanks to God for the gift of life and ask for his blessings for the coming year,” he said. “It’s also the end of the year, so the family comes together for reconciliation, to make things new.”  
Christmas Mass at midnight is an important Polish tradition, said Father Krzysztof Korcz, pastor of St. Andrew Bobola Parish in Dudley.
Before their Christmas Eve meal at home, families “break bread” by sharing oplatki wafers, read Scripture, and exchange Christmas greetings. The unleavened bread embossed with Nativity scenes symbolizes the Blessed Sacrament and Jesus, the bread of life, the parish bulletin explains.
“I continue this every year,” Father Korcz said, “because I have some Polish people who want to keep this tradition alive.”  
The pastor of Annunciation Parish in Gardner brought a tradition from his native Colombia to his people: they were invited to “find the Christ Child” at the parish open house Dec. 6. Finders won a chocolate Advent calendar.  
Father Victor A. Sierra said that, in Colombia, a baby Jesus figurine is hidden in homes on Dec. 24, and the child who finds it gets a prize of toys. Baby Jesus leaves gifts in all the children’s beds.
Among seasonal highlights for Hispanics from various countries is the Dec. 12 feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
That day, Bishop McManus celebrated a bilingual evening Mass at St. Paul Cathedral, religious education students re-enacted Mary’s apparitions to St. Juan Diego, and worshippers brought candles to the altar. Father Juan D. Parra, associate pastor, said the candles were an offering to the Blessed Mother “in thanksgiving and to ask her to prepare our hearts to receive our Savior.”
A mariachi, (a traditional Mexican musical ensemble), played before the Blessed Mother’s image, and a reception followed.  
At St. Joseph and St. Stephen Parish in Worcester, Spanish Mass was celebrated at 5 a.m. Dec. 12, said Barbara Lizardo, administrative assistant. She said mariachis sang “Las Mañanitas,” a tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and played more songs as people shared foods from different countries.
Another tradition that Hispanics and Brazilians in the parish are observing is the Christmas novena, Mrs. Lizardo said. Clergy and laity go to a different home each night Dec. 12-22. Families open their homes to anyone who wants to come there to pray the novena prayers, sing and enjoy refreshments or dinner.  
On Dec. 23, the novena and a party with food and dancing are to be held at St. Stephen Church after the Lord’s Day vigil Mass, she said. The novena concludes with Christmas Eve Mass.  
Many countries hold this novena “to prepare to receive our baby Jesus,” Mrs. Lizardo said.
In a similar activity, Dec. 15-22 St. John Paul II Parish in Southbridge is observing Las Posadas, commemorating Mary and Joseph seeking lodging before Jesus’ birth.  
“When you give someone posada, you are letting them stay at your place,” explained Father Carlos F. Ardila, pastor.
Before COVID “we used to go to people’s houses” for a prayerful drama that involved Mary and Joseph knocking on the door asking for admittance, he said.  
Now, parish groups organize the event, held in St. Mary Church, with a reception following, he said. A costumed Mary and Joseph sit in front. There is a sung conversation between them and the “house owners,” who eventually “let them in.” There are songs, Scripture readings, a reflection, and posadas prayers. A family is given a candle to signify that Jesus’ light will dwell in their household.  
Parol lanterns resembling the star of Bethlehem decorate churches for the Filipino tradition Simbang Gabi, in Spanish “Misa de Gallo” (Mass of the Rooster), according to information from Barbara Jorda, a Filipina from St. Mary Parish in Shrewsbury. Traditionally, farmers attended Mass at dawn before work for nine days prior to Christmas.
At St. Mary’s Lord’s Day vigil Mass Dec. 16, a modified version of the tradition was celebrated. Mrs. Jorda said Filipinos carried offertory gifts: parols; a fruit basket representing the Noche Buena tradition of a Christmas Eve feast; a model hut symbolizing humble Filipino farmers and the Holy Family’s humble beginnings;  an image of the Holy Family to signify how Filipinos “value the family, especially during Christmas” when “everyone comes together; and the flag of the Philippines, a very Catholic country.  
Only about 7 percent of people in Vietnam are Catholic. But those who celebrate Christmas enjoy displaying lights, said Father Peter Tam M. Bui, pastor of Our Lady of Vilna Parish in Worcester, home of the local Catholic Vietnamese community.
Khanh Tran, a member of the parish council, helped hang thousands of lights of various colors inside the church and hall, on the front of the church, on the trees and around outdoor statues.  
“We make it beautiful as much as possible,” Mr. Tran said.
The outdoor lights have shone nightly since the Sunday after Thanksgiving and will remain on all night on Christmas Eve.