Undas: All Saint's Day Celebration In The Philippines After Many Years

5 November 2024

In our country, November 1st and 2nd differs from other days on the calendar. It's called Undas locally, also known as "All Saints Day." People in the same family get together to remember and respect their dead loved ones. This custom is also a religious event for Filipinos that we anticipate and celebrate. Those are days when families, as well as cemeteries, become busier.

After years of working abroad, I finally celebrated Undas in my homeland. There wasn't much preparation except for cleaning my father's tomb; we were more looking forward to visiting him on this special day. I hope I can build a better house for him one day so he'll be more comfortable in his resting place. Materializing this plan takes money and preparations, especially since materials are quite pricey nowadays. Hoping to start building it by next year.

Prior to this event was the Halloween party. In our town, just like in other places, there's a Halloween night parade and party on the 31st of October featuring all participants in their respective spooky costumes for the Halloween contest. It was on my bucket list. However, we were in the city that day to process some paperwork, and as I returned home at night, I eventually finished things to do online to meet my client's deadline. So, this event slipped my mind until my gay brother messaged me online with the photos of the participants in Halloween costumes and the parade, persuading me to go to the gymnasium to watch the event. But as much as I wanted to watch the event, my work was more important. After checking the entries from our town's FB page, I learned that one of my cousins participated in the Halloween costume contest.

As mentioned above, the private and public cemeteries become busier as the preparation starts days leading up to Undas. Families get busy; tombs are being cleaned, some are even preparing food for the special day, and families gather in the cemetery to honor their loved ones who have passed. So, Undas is just like other festivals that Filipinos anticipate with preparation and excitement.

People flocked to cemeteries on the 1st and 2nd of November. They gathered around gravesites with food and, of course, prayers. Some even set up tents, and I spotted affluent families with catering services at their mausoleums. To maintain safety around the cemetery sites, some police officers were stationed in different areas. Visitors should follow some protocols, and alcohol was prohibited in the cemetery. It was even better because alcohol usually leads to misunderstandings and fights.

We chose the afternoon on the 1st of November to visit my father's resting place as the weather is milder in the afternoon and cooler at night. Another reason was that I was expecting a smaller crowd in the afternoon, but to my surprise, the crowd seemed the same even when it was almost nighttime. We prepared a few foods for this event. What mattered to us was to reconnect with our loved ones who have passed.

So Undas is not just a simple celebration; it's a way to show respect and love that never ends even after death.

What about you? How did you celebrate Undas with your family?

Thanks for your time.

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