We have no classic Christmas story but we have one of the most classical New Year’s stories. We are, of course, referring to Nick Joaquin’s The Mass of St. Sylvestre. It depicts how the pagan New Year was Christianized. We quote: In Christianity, the post of Janus has been taken over by another Roman: St. Sylvestre, pope and confessor, whose feast falls on the last day of the year. At midnight of that day, the papal saint appears on earth and, with the keys of his office, opens the gates of all the principal archiepiscopal cities and celebrates the first Mass of the year in their cathedrals.
Manila has been a cathedral-city almost from its foundation; for centuries it was one of the only two cities in the Orient (Goa being the other) to whose gates the New Year’s key-bearer made his annual visitation. For this purpose, St. Sylvestre always used the Puerta Postigo, which is – of the seven gates of our city – the one reserved for the private use of the viceroys and the archbishops. There he is met by the great St. Andrew, principal patron of Manila accompanied by St. Potenciana, who is our minor patroness, and by St. Francis and St. Dominic, the guardians of our walls.
St. Sylvestre comes arrayed in cloth-of-gold and crowned with the tiara. Holy knights suspend a pallium above him; archangels swing censers and wave peacock fans; the Book, the Mitre, the Staff and the Keys are borne before him by a company of seraphim; and cherubs flock ahead, blowing on trumpets. Below them swarm the Hours on fast wings. After them come the more sober Days – cryptic figures clad in silver above, in sable below – playing softly on viols. But behind the Pontiff himself, walking three by three, are the twelve splendid angels of the Christian Year.
The first three of these angels are clothed in evergreen and are crowned with pearls, and in their hands they bear incense, gold and myrrh – for these are the angels of the Christmas Season. And the next three angels are clothed in April violets and are crowned with rubies, and they bear the implements of the Passion – for these are the angels of the holy time of Lent. And the next three angels are clothed in lilies and are crowned with gold, and they bear triumphal banners – for these are the angels of Eastertide. But the last three angels are clothed in pure flame and are crowned with emeralds, and they bear the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost – Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Counsel, Perseverance, Piety, and the Fear of God – for these are the angles of Pentecost.
Have you ever read of a more fascinating New Year’s celebration? Read the rest of the story.