Lenten Celebration in the Philippines
By jimbelle
@jimbelle (485)
Philippines
March 22, 2008 1:19am CST
Easter and Christmas are the most joyful religious celebrations in the Philippines where majority are practicing Christians specifically catholics. In Christmas we celebrate the birth of our saviour Jesus. "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son." In Easter we celebrate Jesus "resurrection". Both are essential and both are clear evidence of Father's love for us. Christmas is in festive mood for gift giving, noche buena and "misa de gallo.
On the other hand, Holy week starts on Palm sunday. Many Filipinos go to church and have "palm leaves" blessed. Then on the following days we pray, meditate and do act of penance or good works. Stations of the cross is a common act of prayer in many regions. "Visita iglesia" of at least 14 churches corresponding to the 14 stations of the cross is practiced on Holy Thursday and the "pabasa" which is the reading of the 7 last words is on good Friday. On Easter dawn we have the "salubong" when we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord. In addition to these fast and abstinence is practiced where on Fridays and Good Friday is meatless day. These are a few of the traditions and practices we have in the Philippines. How is lenten season celebrated in your region or country?
2 responses
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
25 Mar 08
Yes also from the Philippines, I rather find our practice and tradition in here to be rather unique and different from most of the people there. I am just sad that the tradition is slowly fading away in some places in here especially in the metropolis. I hope we could preserve that tradition.
@jimbelle (485)
• Philippines
25 Mar 08
Yuo're right. We being majority Christians who practice the tradition of the Lenten season will hopefully keep the tradition. So sometimes it will be good to go home to the home province during this time because in the provinces the activities for these season are still practiced.
@chiyosan (30183)
• Philippines
23 Mar 08
same as yours. i am also in the philippines. hehe
I think it is rather unsual... by the way, just yesterday i was reading news articles from msn, i cam across a news from the country about the "re-enactment"of Christ's cruxificion. you know how it was described in the news?
"gruesome"!!!!
@jimbelle (485)
• Philippines
23 Mar 08
I have not read the news. Is it the same as that one practiced in Pampanga? There are also areas here in Manila and Antipolo where they also re-enact the cruxifiction. There are some men who really have themselves crucified to atone for their sins or they do it for a favor. But I was not able to witness it.
