A centuries-old religious tradition by the people of Kawit, Maytinis is a colourful event celebrated every Christmas Eve in this small town of Cavite province, south of Manila.
Anticipated by crowds of tourists and Caviteños alike, the Maytinis is a long procession of floats depicting biblical characters from Adam and Eve to Joseph and Mary’s journey before Christ’s birth. Biblical characters are sometimes played by famous entertainers or celebrities, but most often by the local beauties of the town.
The storytelling is dramatized through a serenade by Joseph and Mary whose float makes a stop at several houses to ask for shelter and a place to give birth. They are shunned until they reach the 17th century St. Mary Magdalene Church where the Virgin Mary and Joseph are welcomed by angels in a giant “Belen” (Nativity Scene) which covers the whole Retablo or Altar of the church.
The 20 or so floats sponsored by a barangay of the town, an organization or individuals traditionally depict the sequence of the history of salvation from the Old to the New Testaments of the Holy Bible.
Each float is followed by young ladies and lads of the town dressed in shepherd clothes carrying the theme of the float they are following.
Clowns join the procession featuring creative expressions of the town’s sentiments on current national issues, all done in jest but nevertheless thought-provoking.
Marching bands come from all over the province join the parade floats.
The parade ends at the altar of the church where the Christmas Eve mass is celebrated by the entire town and the more than the usual number of evening visitors.
The traditional parade is organized by the Confradia De Sagrada Familia (Confraternity of the Holy Family) an organization of the pre-selected “Ama” and “Ina” principal sponsors of the Maytinis festival, together with the Kawit parish priest, currently Father Romeo Ner of the Diocese of Imus.
The post Kawit Cavite’s centuries old X’mas Eve Float Parade appeared first on Good News Pilipinas.