Holy Week Myths and Superstitions in the Philippines
When you get to know the rich culture of a place, there are some fun and exciting things that you'll learn about. One of them is the unique beliefs and stories that go along with each country's special holidays. These myths and superstitions are sometimes quirky, sometimes downright scary, but always interesting.
One of the biggest holidays in the Philippines is Holy Week. During this holiday, there are several folklore and customs passed on through our elders to the young ones, which are sometimes believed by many to be truthful. For the most part, Filipinos are a deeply religious people. Perhaps it is in our blood, because even the slightest remembrance of faith has always been an important ingredient in everything we do. This makes the country's Holy Week a festival that goes beyond religion and spreads into the fringes of popular culture. The various myths, traditions, and superstitions vary widely from town to town and village to village. While some are common throughout the country, others are only known by certain regions or families. To prove this, here are some popular myths and superstitions that are rooted within the tradition. I've also included practical tips you can use when you visit the Philippines during Holy Week.
It is forbidden to take a bath at three o'clock in the afternoon on Good Friday. Don't wash your hair during Holy Week or else you'll have bad luck all year.
Avoid getting wounded because it takes a longer time to heal. Some believe that wounds sustained on Good Friday will not heal until Easter Sunday or Holy Monday, depending on your faith. The same is true for cuts from knives or razors during this period, which is why some Filipinos avoid cutting their nails or hair. It is not advised to use sharp objects like knife or scissors during these days because you might slash yourself accidentally and bleed profusely.
Refrain from speaking or laughing out loud because you could be easily touched by an evil spirit. It is believed that during this time, evil spirits abound and may get you if you do not follow the rule. Also, this myth is said to be rooted in the belief that it was bad to be too happy during Holy Week because Jesus was suffering on the cross.
Sweeping every night is a no-no as it will bring bad luck, as well as drive away blessings.
While you're free to go out on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, it's considered best to stay in. This is because legend says that come these days, evil spirits are free to roam the earth and would harm people or even kill them if they go out.
Don't make noise such as playing karaoke or honking your car's horn, as it may disturb wild souls.
During Holy Week, it is forbidden to grill meat on Easter. It is also advisable to avoid eating pork, chicken or beef as well as other dishes that use ingredients derived from animals with four legs. It is okay to eat fish, however. This tradition stems from the Catholic Church's practice of abstaining from meat during Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter). Grilling or cooking meat during Holy Week is also considered taboo.
Refrain from traveling by car or plane because it could lead to accidents. The belief is that Jesus traveled by foot when he was crucified so people should follow suit by walking instead of driving during Easter week.
If a pregnant woman eats mangoes during Holy Week, she will give birth to a child with a cleft lip.
It is forbidden to wear bright or colorful clothes during Holy Week, as dark colors are used by mourners in the past, and wearing these colors would bring bad luck.
When it comes to tradition, Filipinos are very serious. It would seem as though it would be easy to break these Holy Week traditions—after all, a lot of them are probably just old wives’ tales—but these customs were born out of respect for our Catholic heritage.
Every Filipino is familiar with some of the myths and superstitions about Holy Week. If these are taken as facts, it can be a cause for fear and precaution. There are many widespread publication circulating the web, trying to substitute these myths with logic and reasoning. Yet, there are still many people who believe in these fables to this day. Unsurprisingly, there is no scientific basis to most of these myths and superstitions (I say this because generally Christians tend to be more rational when it comes to religious beliefs). Rather, you will see from the explanations given by Filipinos that deep religious beliefs play a part in their rationale for these Holy Week superstitions.
The stories might sound a bit farfetched, but whether you're a believer or not, it's good to know a bit about the history and traditions of our own culture. If you have friends from other cultures, this knowledge can help you to appreciate their religious practices as well. I hope this post inspired you to learn more about the rituals and traditions of Holy Week in the Philippines, which is a very fascinating part of Filipino culture. Don't forget to share your knowledge with us in the comments section below!
Lead image from philnews.ph
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Here, some of these are just like myth and are fading off(I mean the believe). The one that got us when we were little is the one of NO EATING OF MEAT ON GOOD FRIDAY