SUBSCRIBESemana Santa 06: Domingo de Ramos, 1
Domingo de Ramos or Palm Sunday, is one of the significant days of the Semana Santa wherein it marks the start of the Holy Week. It is a reenactment of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem when he was received by the people, waving palms while he was riding a donkey (or an ass?). I woke up 0300H, very early despite having little sleep as I just came from Lucban the other day. Too early to be able to document the Palm Sunday activities in Lucban, around three hours by bus. I’ve decided to pass Tayabas since if I’ll go via Sta. Cruz, I was just afraid that the minibus there will not be able to go on time and therefore miss this opportunity.
Palm Sunday, or in my vernacular, Cebuano, bindita sa lukay (blessing of the palms) has always been experienced with the usual Sunday mass in my native hometown of Talisay. Here, fronds of coconut palms are formed into rudimentary crosses and other forms but simple. When the activity starts, the priest just enters the church and blesses the palms. Its just that simple. When I came to Lucban, I never expected that it will be grand. Different.
Left, early morning, around 0600H in Tayabas, vendors are already hawking their unblessed palaspas or palms in time for the blessing of the palms that is the Domingo de Ramos.
Right, a simple structure where the osana (hosannas) are sung. In other places, the practice is for a small group of girls dressed as angels (sometimes, not angels), where the priest or even the carroza bearing the image of the Christ goes. Other than singing, they also throw flowers. In Lucban, this used to be the practice where it is done arond the four corners of the quince quince, the wavelike church perimenter that can be found in some old churches. However, after the construction of the stage in front of the church, this was no longer observed. Still in Tayabas.
Left, a vendor plying her unblessed palms. One of the visual treats during this day is the different designs that one can see. These was taken in Tayabas.
Right, finished palm fronds, ready for the blessing. These were displayed at the side of the church in Lucban. Costs range from 5 – 8 pesos depending on the design.
Left and right, churchgoers assembling in the churchyard waiting for the priest to bless their palms. When I arrived at the church, I never expected that there will be a carroza (carriage) depicting Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem. This is owned by the family of Jayson’s distant cousin, Paugio, and it shows an image of Christ riding an ass lushfully decorated with palaspas. I never expected that this is also observed here. I’ve only seen it in books showing images of Palm Sunday activities in Bulacan. Compared with my town in Talisay, this is not practiced.
Left, the priests offers incense before blessing the palms. Its just a beautiful view as the palms are swayed by the faithful while the priest bless these with holy water.
Right, another surprise for me here. Just like in Bulacan, as read from books, old women, called by townsfolk banal na mga babae, literally, holy women lay their tapis, wrap skirt, along the pathway for the priest to walk on. Of course, not all still have their tapis but the practice still holds and one can now see black cloth being used. In one instance, a headveil was lain down.
Left, the priest on the way to the altar with the banal na mga babae laying down their tapis and/or black cloth. They kneel down and afte the priest passes, they quickly grab the black cloth and race to the front to lay it down again. Even 80 year old ladies still do this one. I’ve also observed that after the priest passes, some ladies touch or grab the edges of his vestment or stole to kiss it.
Right, the carroza of the Christ entering Jerusalem is pulled along the churches aisle to the altar where it is placed until the end of the mass.
Related posts:
Series 31: Semana Santa 06
Semana Santa 06: Santo Señor Sepulcro
Semana Santa 06: Dressing the Santo Señor Sepulcro
Semana Santa 06: Domingo de Ramos, 2 and Pabasa
Semana Santa 06: Via Crucis
Semana Santa 06: Senakulo
Semana Santa 06: Flagellants
Semana Santa 06: Paete and Pakil processions
Semana Santa 06: Maundy Thursday
Semana Santa 06: Good Friday, 1
April 27th, 2006 at 5:27PM
Very informative. I didn’t knew the blessing of the palms was such an important event.