A few days ago, I noticed that the image of Sto. Nino which welcomed guests into my home was grimy and dirty. I gave Him a bath and while soaping and sudsing Him, I was talking to Him as a mother would to a child who just came home playing, all sweaty and dirty... "Where have you been this time?... Why are you so dirty?... Who were you playing with?... Now don't be "malikot" so I could give you a nice, warm bath and soon You will be clean and fragrant"... and then I realized that very soon, it would be His feast day. No wonder He wanted a bath so badly!
In the Philippines, the Catholic Church and devotees to the Santo Niño celebrate the feast day of the Child Jesus on the third Sunday of January with masses, novenas, processions, parades, exhibits, and other merry-making rites in His honor. The event is usually celebrated with fiestas, colorful parades, and street dancing in many parts of the country where the whole month of January has been devoted to the Santo Niño.
Romblon has its Biniray Festival; Cebu City has its famous Sinulog Festival, which coincides with Kalibo, Aklan’s Ati-Atihan Festival; Pagadian City celebrates its Zambulawan Festival; Cagayan de Oro its Pachada Señor, Butuan City has its Kahimunan Festival, while Iloilo City celebrates its Dinagyang Festival. Celebrations in honor of the child Jesus are also being held in Pandacan and Tondo, Manila, Malolos, Bulacan, and in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
Catholic Church officials said the image of the Santo Niño with a king’s crown reminds the faithful of the "Kingship and the Childhood of Christ." The small replica of the world in His hands means that Christ is the King of the universe who became a little child. As Jesus said: "Unless you become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18: 3-4).
The image of the Santo Niño was brought to the islands on April 14, 1521, as a gift of Ferdinand Magellan to Queen Juana of Cebu who allowed herself to be baptized with her husband Rajah Humabon and over 800 natives.
According to stories, Queen Juana cried for unexplained reasons after looking at the image of the Child Jesus.
Now known as the Santo Niño de Cebu, the image is considered as the oldest Christian relic in the country. It is enshrined at the oldest church in the country, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu City.
Interestingly enough, it is not just in the Philippines that Catholics have a special and ardent devotion to the child Jesus. In Poland, thousands of pilgrims pay homage to the Infant of Prague each year. The tradition of the Infant Jesus procession and the coronation continues to this day. On May 27, 1995, a solemn procession of the Infant Jesus took place in the streets of Prague with Cardinal Sin of Manila (Philippines) and Cardinal Vlk of Prague leading the procession. This ceremony was the closing highlight of the annual Feast of the Infant Jesus in Prague.
As the devotion to the Infant Jesus spreads throughout the world, many parishes now offer Holy Mass and novenas to honor the Holy Child Jesus, Son of God, and many prayer groups have been formed.
Sources: Wikepedia, Manila Bulletin
