Palaspas

From WikiPilipinas: The Hip 'n Free Philippine Encyclopedia

Palaspas are decorated palm fronds that are brought to church to be blessed on Palm Sunday. They are waved at the start of the Mass to commemorate Jesus’ welcome upon his entry into Jerusalem. Palaspas may also be used at barrio weddings or fiestas.

The palm fronds are meant to later be burned to produce the ashes for the next Ash Wednesday ritual. But before this, Filipinos may choose to place them in their windowsills or on their front doors, believing they have the power to ward off evil. Hence the answer to the traditional riddle "It was hanged after it was dead" is “palaspas.”

[edit] The making of palaspas

Typically, young fresh coconut palm leaves (ibus) are used to make palaspas. Fronds from the buri palm may also be used. The fronds may be woven into each other or bent into curves. For color, bright crepe paper roses are usually added.

Designs vary, but essentially each palaspas consists of a decorative handle that may be heart-shaped or woven like a mat or folded into overlapping bows and the fronds, which are cut and woven to form various textures and designs. They could be made into different shapes like kidlat (lighting ), espada (sword), bola (ball), ibon (bird), hipon (shrimp), and others.

[edit] History

While the celebration of Palm Sunday or Domingo de Ramos was brought to the Philippines by the Spaniards among other Catholic beliefs and traditions, the Filipino art of making decorative palaspas seems to have preceded this. Fray Juan De Plasencia noted in 1589 that when the early Filipinos wished to celebrate a festival, which they called pandot or worship, at the house of their chief, “in the center of the house they place one large lamp, adorned with leaves of the white palm, wrought into many designs.” The designs of the Philippine palaspas are similar to those found in Bali, Indonesia, suggesting the traditional handicraft dates back to the common ancestors of these neighboring countries.