Grinch Historians Steal Christmas Pilipino Express • Vol

Grinch historians steal Christmas Pilipino Express • Vol. 4 No. 24 Who was Odoric? Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Church biographers report that December 16 - 31, 2008 Odoric Mattiussi of Pordenone was born sometime around the year In Bolinao, Pangasinan, there 1286 and he entered the Franciscan is a small monument that marks Order at Udine in about the year the site of the first Christmas 1300. (Some historians, such as mass ever held in the Philip- William H. Scott, doubt that he was pines. Two hundred years before a priest.) In 1318, Odoric set out on Magellan wandered into the Phil- a mission to Asia. He travelled ippine Archipelago, a Franciscan from Italy to Turkey, Iran, India, friar named Odoric of Porde- Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, none, Italy is said to have landed Vietnam and China, where he on the shores of Pangasinan, stayed for three years. He then re- Friar Odoric Mattiussi of seeking shelter from a stormy turned to Italy by an overland route Pordenone sea. through Mongolia and Tibet. Stepping onto the beach and When Odoric arrived home in tanah masin means “land of salt” in carrying a black crucifix, he met 1330, he dictated the story of his Malaysian. This has been enough “hostile natives” who, upon wit- 12-year adventure to a friar named evidence for some history buffs to nessing his courage and faith, William of Solagna in Padua but he declare that Odoric visited the Phil- were soon pacified. After showing didn’t say anything about a Christ- ippines because the name Pangasi- the locals some pictures of the mas mass with a Christmas tree nan means, “the place where salt is infant Jesus, Joseph and Mary, the anywhere in his travels. made.” Some also see a connection friar and his companions erected to a mythical land with a similar a cross and planted a Christmas The Pangasinan connection name, Tawalisi, which was the tree. There they kneeled and cele- home of the Pangasinan warrior brated the first Christmas mass in princess, Urduja – but that is a the Philippines and later baptized whole other myth. several Pangasinans. The date Odoric did not say anything was December 25, 1324. about salt in his account of Thala- Or maybe that date was in the masin, which he said was also year 1200 – or maybe it was on known by the name, Panten. He did some Christmas day between say that this land had various trees 1280 and 1320. Take your pick; that could produce flour, wine and the facts are “open to interpreta- poisons, and that the men of this tion,” as some history buffs might place used blowpipe weapons and say. Real historians, however, protective amulets inserted under must play the part of Scrooge in their skin. However, as Yule this Christmas tale and say, “Bah! pointed out, these characteristics Humbug!” – because it never could describe many places in the really happened. Malay Archipelago. Friar Odoric was a real person Odoric’s narrative places Tha- but it is not likely that he ever lamasin somewhere between Java visited the Philippines – much and Champa (now a part of Viet- less performed baptisms and a nam), and he said it was near the mass in Pangasinan. And the “South Sea.” However, Bolinao, Christmas tree? Well, the Italian Friar Odoric’s monument in Pangasinan is 16 degrees north of friar was probably not carrying a Bolinao, Pangasinan the equator and it is a huge detour pine tree with him on his sea So where does Pangasinan fit from a direct route between these voyage. Also, tree decorating was into this story? Believers of the two places. considered a pagan custom at that myth point to a place that Odoric Henry Yule’s best guess was time, not coming into fashion for called Thalamasin. Its supposed that Odoric was probably talking Christians until the 1500s in connection to Pangasinan is proba- about a place on the southern Germany, and not until the mid to bly based on an overly hopeful coast of Borneo now known as late 1800s in the rest of Europe. interpretation of an 1866 book by Banjarmasin, meaning “salt gar- Even today, decorating trees is Henry Yule, Cathay and the way den.” Yule also mentioned a not a major part of Christmas thither. In an examination of place on the east coast of Borneo celebrations in Odoric’s home- Odoric’s account, Yule speculated called Biru (now Berau) that had land of Italy where nativity on the possible meanings of the been listed in atlases with the scenes are more popular. name Thalamasin and he noted that names Talysian and Panteh. Paul Morrow • In Other Words • The Pilipino Express • December 16 - 31, 2008

History & myth most never mention places in the desperately far-fetched that infor- Philippines with recognizable mation is. Meanwhile, scientists So, it turns out that this story of names. This has been frustrating for and historians who do legitimate the first Christmas in the Philip- historians and for Filipino national- research that happens to debunk pines is pure humbug. But why ists, and it has led some of them to these myths are often painted as would anyone bother to invent such cross the line between history and villains. In the case of Odoric’s a story? Unfortunately, there is no myth. Wherever there is a lack of mass in Pangasinan, they are like written history of the pre-colonial knowledge, there will always be the Grinch who stole Christmas. Philippines; almost no written some people who want to fill in the E-mail the author at documents at all, in fact. Foreign gaps with information that makes [email protected] or accounts are sketchy and they al- them feel important, no matter how visit www.mts.net/~pmorrow