What is all saints day?
All saints day here in the Philippines also known as todos Los Santos. It is celebrated on the 1st day of November. It is celebrated in remembrance of all the saints, whether known or not. Some Filipinos said that the catholic church believes that this day is a tribute to those who have achieved a beatific view of the sky.
What is all soul's day?
All souls day is this celebration is in remembrance of all the souls of the dead, those who have not yet reached heaven.
What is "Undas"?
Here in the Philippines it is called Undas also known as all souls day or feast of the dead.
They said "undas" that celebrated now come from the culture of Mexico. A hundred years will pass when people practice that culture. It's during the time that Spaniards not yet about to come when Mexico's cultures still prevailed. Here in our country, the cemetery is the center of the celebration of all soul's day. People went to the tomb of their loved ones to offer some flowers, foods, put some light on candles, and pray to offer for them. It also the time that families are reunited, where they were able to talk for a long time. Sometimes they are playing some cards and other pastimes.
Aside from going to the cemetery, during all souls day many people put a light candle outside their homes.
They said it is a sign of remembering the souls of their loved ones. The numbers of candles depending on how many souls they are praying for. When I was a kid I remember that the candle lighting place beside our doors.
Another accustomed by Filipinos is what we-called "pangaluluwa", it is a tradition like trick or treating in America. It is practiced by a group of young people that comes into our house to ask for alms by singing for souls. The limos that they receive is for the souls in purgatory: the type of songs of the group that trick or treating is as follows:
" kaluluwa kaming tambing/sa purgatoryo kami galing/ doon po ang gawa naming, araw, gabi manalangin/kung kami po ay lilimusan/dali-daliin po lamang/baka kami mapagsarhan/ng pinto ng kalangitan".
Halloween is also accustomed by our Filipinos that we celebrated and we can't deny that we adapt this to Americans.
What is Halloween?
Halloween is celebrated tonight of October 31st, before all saints day. Mostly, the activities during Halloween do the tricks or treats ( wherein young people went to houses to request some candies), attending the costume party, making Jack-ó-lanterns, making some bonfire, went to the scariest place, the storytelling scariest story, and watching some scariest movies like what we do last year because this year is no celebration of Halloween party due to pandemic crisis.
Filipinos have different activities during all soul's day. But in the midst of them, we must know why we do them We should always remember that the purpose of all souls day in commemoration of our loved ones who passed away. An offering of prayer and visiting in their tomb is we must not forget it.
However, mass gatherings have been banned because of the covid-19 pandemic that surging around the country and the world. That includes the huge crowds that normally go to cemeteries at this time. So, we expected that day (October 31st-November 2) has been suspended to visit our loved ones in the cemetery. It is ordered for the safety of the city’s residents.
There will be one other occasion this year when masses of Filipinos normally come together – the nine dawn masses of Simbang Gabi starting December 16. There is a big chance, according to a University of the Philippines team monitoring COVID-19 infections in the country that we may be back to close-to-normal living before the end of the year, with the steady drop in the number of cases.
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