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Posts Tagged ‘cemetery’

Halloween in the Philippines is celebrated in the eve of All Saint’s Day, which we all know is October 31. Some of us celebrate and some of us don’t. People who celebrate either go to party on clubs or have their own version of trick or treat. Almost all clubs and restaurants in the metro have their own design for their Halloween treat for customers. Some are spooky and some are just like costume party theme.

I think I should no further explain what is this holiday about, but for all of you concerned, this Halloween original name is All Hallows’ Even and it is an ancient Celtic festival that Irish immigrants in the U.S. brought in the nineteenth century.

In ancient times, Gaels, the ethnic group of Ireland believed that the date Halloween was celebrated, October 31, dissolves the boundary between the living and the dead and the dead is very dangerous during this day, and usually damages crops and causes sickness. This occasion was celebrated with a festival that includes bonfire and costumes with some jack-o’-lanterns, which is a carved pumpkin that resembles a face with candle inside of it and was used to frightened off superstitions.

Halloween for children now are celebrated with trick or treat activities and they usually go to other houses in their villages or subdivisions with costumes and ask for some treats from homeowners just like the usual trick or treat in the U.S. or any other country. Actually, Halloween is an adaptation of the same occasion in the U.S.

Now, watching horror movies in very usual in this date. Some just go to their departed relatives in the cemetery just to be early in the All Saint’s Day rush the next morning.

Some are also taking advantage of this holiday to go out for vacation and many go to their respective provinces to visit their loved ones and their departed ones. However, this year will be a little different because in the previous years where All Saint’s and All Soul’s day was set in weekdays, now in 2008 these holidays are in weekends; therefore there are no special movement of holidays and there will be no long weekend for some of us working.

Travelling in the provinces will be minimal because of the limited days of holidays, which this year is only 2 days considering that this is one of the major holiday that our countrymen go out and meet again long lost relatives and family members in far-flung provinces.

Just like any other holidays in the Philippines, it usually takes time in the preparations. Advertisements runs for weeks, some took months, like in Halloween, as early as September, some are already prep for this occasion. Would you believe it that the Philippines is the only country that has the longest Christmas season in the world. People started preparing for Christmas as early as the “Ber” months begin, meaning September until December. And it does not end there, it usually took until late January and sometimes until early February, and then another occasion will coincide which is Valentines. It is a great season for love and a really great season to burn your wallet and pocket!

Well, for me because I don’t visit anymore my relatives in the province and I only visit my departed loved ones in the metro’s cemetery, then I spare myself of the hassle in waiting in the long line in the bus companies or ship’s pier.

I think I’m going the wrong way, as for the topic’s concern, but hey this is my blog so just try to keep on reading hehehe!

So, for me, I would rather celebrate Halloween with my significant other, partying or just go to a nice resto and spend the night away, spooking each other!

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… C: wait… SD: wait…