All Saints Day is an important holiday in the Philippines, with millions paying their respects to the dead. And they have come up with a myriad of ways to commemorate their departed relatives. Here are some of the fascinating traditions you will encounter this Undas.
All Saints Day Tradition no. 1: Visiting the graves of relatives
While visiting the graves of relatives on All Saints Day is a universal tradition for most Christian countries, it is a bigger affair for Filipinos. Families don’t just drop by the cemeteries but stay for the whole day. Some would even camp out the night prior.
Part of the cemetery visit is connecting with other relatives who would visit. The relatives who are nearest to the grave will often prepare plenty of food for other clan members. It is also customary to bring and share the dead’s favorite food.
For some families, visiting their dead relatives’ graves begins a few days before November 1. They remove the weeds growing around the grave marker and beautify it. This includes cleaning and painting it into a new color. Some also take the time to prep the site for receiving other visitors, such as pitching a tent for use during the day.
All Saints Day Tradition no. 2: Paying respects to distant dead relatives
In some instances, families might not have the time or resources to travel and visit their dead relatives. This is often the case if the dead are buried in far provinces. In place of physical appearances, the family will light a candle at the front of their doorsteps and offer prayers. The number of candles they light often signifies the number of dead relatives they are offering prayers for.
Another common practice here is pag-aatang, where families put the dead’s favorite food in front of an altar. The altar itself can be a simple picture of the departed and a candle or an elaborate shrine in their memory. Some believe that if the food is consumed when no one is around, it’s a sign that the departed is delighted. In a few regions like Ilocos, people even include things like tobacco in their offerings.
Offering masses
Some Filipino Catholics also opt to offer masses for their departed relatives. They go to their local parish and list the names of relatives the mass is for. During the mass on All Saints Day, the officiating priest will read the listed names and lead the congregation in prayer for the eternal repose of their souls.
Through the wonders of technology, even those abroad can partake in this All Saints Day tradition. In 2017, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) launched its Undas Online website that lets people send prayer requests to the CBCP. You just need to fill up the provided form. The masses are offered at the CBCP chapel in Intramuros for a week starting from November 1.
All Saints Day tradition no. 3: Pangangaluluwa
While many families in the cities are now adopting Western All Saints Day Traditions like Halloween costume parties, those in the provinces still follow old customs. One of these is pangangaluluwa or souling. Here, groups of people go from house to sing songs for the dead and solicit gifts.
The practice is usually done by adults, in some provinces like Quezon, youngsters also join in. Because of this, some consider it as the Filipino equivalent of the Western trick or treat tradition. Interestingly, certain towns like Sariaya combine the two. Participants get to roam around dressed in ghost and monster costumes and get to scare some townsfolk while singing. The Sariaya city tourism office, which spearheaded the tradition’s revival, uses part of the funds for preparing for the Christmas season.
All Saints Day Tradition no. 4: Sharing horror stories
While Undas is meant for remembering the dead, Pinoys have also turned it into a time for sharing scary stories. The storytelling marathon often starts with family members talking about the dead relative’s spirit supposedly making apparitions, or nagpaparamdam. Soon enough, the session moves into telling stories about all manners of ghosts, elementals, and monsters.
Even TV networks join the fun, airing all sorts of TV specials featuring such stories. One of the most memorable is the Magandang Gabi Bayan Halloween specials hosted by former vice-president Noli de Castro during the ‘90s. It was so popular back then that the special has received a revival in the last few years.
Keep these All Saints’ Day traditions alive
As you can see with these traditions, All Saints Day for Filipinos isn’t just about remembering the dead. It is also about reconnecting with your living relatives and friends and celebrating the departed’s memories together. Keep upholding these cherished traditions and have a worthwhile Undas with your loved ones.