Honoring the departed

As Filipinos trooped to the cemeteries yesterday to honor their dead, have you ever wondered why we choose to commemorate the occasion on All Saints' Day when the more appropriate date should be today, All Souls' Day?

This tradition of paying homage to the deceased is an essential part of Filipino culture and primarily centers around All Saints' Day, which falls on 1 November. While All Souls' Day is also a significant occasion for commemorating the departed, All Saints' Day holds a unique importance for Filipinos.

The annual exodus to the cemeteries (and lately columbaria) on All Saints' Day has deep roots in Filipino culture. This day is marked by various customs and rituals that hold great sentimental value for Filipinos. Families come together to visit cemeteries, light candles, offer prayers, and clean and decorate the graves of their loved ones. It is a day of reverence and remembrance, allowing them to feel connected to those who have passed on to the Great Beyond.

Known locally as Undas, All Saints' Day is celebrated with a sense of festivity and community. It provides an opportunity for relatives and friends to gather, not only to pay their respects but also to strengthen their bonds.

Sharing stories, food, and laughter amidst the solemnity of the occasion helps ease the grief and provides solace. All Saints' Day, therefore, is seen as a day of unity and continuity, where the living and the departed are connected through their shared memories and love.

The preference for All Saints' Day, observers believe, can be attributed to the historical and religious factors that have shaped Filipino society. The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country, and Catholicism has significantly shaped the cultural landscape.

All Saints' Day is a Catholic feast dedicated to all the saints in heaven, both known and unknown. On this day, Catholics are encouraged to seek the saints' intercession and reflect on their spiritual journeys.

The historical influence of Spanish colonization, which brought Catholicism to the Philippines, has impacted the culture. The Spaniards introduced their customs and traditions to the Filipino people, including the observance of All Saints' Day. Over time, this practice merged with indigenous customs related to ancestor worship and evolved into the unique Filipino tradition we see today.

All Souls' Day, which comes a day after All Saints' Day, is dedicated to praying for the souls of the departed in purgatory. While this day is also important for Catholics and is observed with similar rituals, the emphasis on All Saints' Day is often seen as a way of seeking the intercession of the saints to guide and protect the living.

A sense of unity and tradition also drives the preference for All Saints' Day over All Souls' Day. November 1st has become a significant date on the Filipino calendar, and the anticipation leading up to Undas is palpable.

The preparation of food often marks the weeks before All Saints' Day, the cleaning of graves, and the purchase of candles and flowers. Families come together, share responsibilities, and work collectively to celebrate the occasion with the utmost respect and care.

The focus on All Saints' Day, therefore, creates a sense of unity and shared purpose. It's a day when people, regardless of their circumstances, come together as a community to remember and honor their departed loved ones. The collective experience of visiting cemeteries, lighting candles, and offering prayers creates a deep sense of belonging. It fosters a feeling of togetherness that transcends individual differences and brings the Filipino people closer to their cultural roots.

In essence, the choice between All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day is not a matter of one being better or more important than the other. Both days serve as meaningful opportunities to remember and honor the departed. The preference for All Saints' Day in the Philippines is rooted in history, culture, and tradition, and this collective significance makes it more prominent.

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