There is no Holy Week tradition here in the US, but my own family does observe a few Catholic practices here at home , such as meatless Fridays, and fasting and abstinence. ( small breakfast and dinner , no lunch ). At Dad’s workplace, employees can choose one paid personal special non- working holiday …. Dad chose Good Friday.
But in the Philippines , there is a rich Holy Week tradition ( where about 85% are Roman Catholics ) that Filipinos practice with great devotion.
Holy Week ( called Semana Santa in the Philippines ) starts on Palm Sunday, and continuous on until Black Saturday. It is called Black Saturday because on that day, the Lord is………. dead. Easter Sunday is when He rises from the dead…… no Easter Bunny celebration in the Philippines though, and no matter how hard commerce tries to inject that into Philippine culture , no can do. . They simply cannot relate to bunnies and eggs.
Several decades ago, the entire Holy Week was officially non- working holiday ( no office work , no school ) but was reduced to just Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. To this day, Philippine Airlines does not fly on Good Friday. Never book a flight for Good Friday on PAL.
Metro – Manila has a reputation of having the most horrendous traffic in the whole world, # 1, which is a bad thing.
but on Good Friday,
All radio stations are off- air, Tv networks that are on air show only religious movies,( my parents say they’ve watched The Robe , Jesus Christ Superstar, and The Greatest Story Ever Told a million times ) some are off – air, too ( but then, there’s Netfix, which is not bound to observe traditions ^_^ ) and on Good Friday, Masses ( Siete Palabras , or The Seven Last Words ) are shown on some TV networks.
Needless to say, no commerce. ( all stores and restaurants are closed )
But for some reason ,
And religious processions all over the country.
Photo below is , uhm, Jesus in a coffin…… called Santo Entierro, always followed by statue of Mother Mary, called Mater Dolorosa ( Grieving Mother )
In some parts of the country, they hold this kind of procession. ( reenactment of Christ’s Via Crusis , or Way of the Cross) <——— Moriones Festival on the island of Marinduque.
In some parts of the country, processions include self – flagellations ( as sacrifice, a vow, and penance ). The images are a bit graphic, be forewarned ). Note: This is not condoned by the Catholic Church.
Real Crucifixion where a man is physically nailed to the Cross.
Just an FYI from the country where I came from, the Philippines.
Thanks for reading and PEACE .
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Posted by arlene on March 26, 2018 at 10:33 pm
Nice write-up Ren about our Holy Week celebrations.
Posted by renxkyoko on March 26, 2018 at 10:42 pm
I could have written more but I avoid long posts . This is less than 500 words. Holy Week tradition in the Philippines is sooooooooooo interesting, Tita Arlene. Quite unique.
Posted by arlene on March 26, 2018 at 10:45 pm
It is truly unique Ren and I love it.
Posted by RV John on March 26, 2018 at 10:59 pm
“processions include self – flagellations “. Holy ouch!!!!!! Very interesting and informative write up.
Posted by renxkyoko on March 30, 2018 at 7:42 pm
There are only a few places that practice that. We only know of two. One commenter here says there’s one in Pampanga.
Posted by RV John on March 30, 2018 at 10:46 pm
Well, I don’t guess it’s no worse than things that I knew of when I was growing up. In some the deep Hill churches they like to play with copperheads and rattlesnakes, and when they got bit they would say “well it’s up to the Lord”. I would often think ” well maybe the Lord thought you were smart enough not to play with them damn things”. I didn’t go to any of these but knew of them. So again that was one of them “Holly Ouches”.
Posted by Rebecca Dawn on March 27, 2018 at 12:44 am
wow! One of my Filipina friends misses the Catholic Church of her town. She refuses to go the one here. She travels to the next town because the church has a sister church in the Philippines! I can only imagine how much she misses the religious ceremonies like Easter.
Posted by renxkyoko on March 30, 2018 at 7:44 pm
Just like my dad. he went to school in the Philippines run by Jesuits ( Loyola ). So, even if our ” parish ” church here in the US is far from our house, we attend Mass there because the priests are Jesuits.
Posted by Rebecca Dawn on March 30, 2018 at 11:46 pm
My friend hasnt said what kind of catholic church she goes to. If its roman catholic etc. but when my filipina friends were talking about their Holy Friday today, They were deciding if the rice and veggies were going to be enough, there she was buying a meal that had meat in it!
“what? you are eating meat?”
she wrinkled her nose. “I will eat meat. The other girls are fasting. not me! different religion.” I started to laugh.
Posted by renxkyoko on March 31, 2018 at 5:37 am
There’s only one Catholic Church….. it’s even in the Apostle’s Creed, a prayer we say during Mass. ” I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church….. blah, blah. ”
The Muslims also observe fasting and abstinence.
Catholic Churches are run by different ” Orders” , like the Jesuits, Dominicans, Benedictine monks, etc. Our favorite are the Jesuits because they are more progressive.
Posted by Ste J on March 27, 2018 at 12:49 am
I was surprised to not see Easter eggs featured in supermarkets from February, that was a pleasant surprise, we have decided to go up north for a time so I will miss all the processions and such again this year. Little did I know how different the traffic would be on other days when I first hit the roads last year on Good Friday!
Posted by renxkyoko on March 30, 2018 at 7:36 pm
That’s true , SteJ. Easter eggs can’t get traction in the Philippines. Each town has its own religious procession. I’m 100% sure you’ll see one up north.
Posted by Ste J on April 1, 2018 at 10:24 pm
Travelling back on Sunday morning at 4am, I saw a local one just starting, my curiosity at that time was not at its peak though sadly. Sleep was dominating my thoughts after all the travel back from Bontoc.
Posted by cindy knoke on March 27, 2018 at 2:32 am
Amazing!
Posted by renxkyoko on March 29, 2018 at 3:34 am
The self-flagellation is a bit……. I don’t know. I don’t like it.
Posted by Mick Canning on March 27, 2018 at 9:35 am
Interesting post. I have seen very similar Santa Semana celebrations in Spain, where I assume the ones in the Philippines originated.
Posted by renxkyoko on March 29, 2018 at 3:37 am
I ‘m sure that’s where they originated. I wonder if Mexico has similar traditions….. Mexico and the Philippines are a lot similar.
Posted by Mick Canning on March 29, 2018 at 5:13 am
I have a feeling they do.
Posted by andy1076 on March 27, 2018 at 1:06 pm
I have so much respect for the strength in faith in the Philippines, It’s truly awe inspiring the dedication. Even if a rabbit jumped in and went “HEY!! I am a WABBIT! Here are ma eggs! Buy them!”
Posted by renxkyoko on March 27, 2018 at 3:39 pm
Oh, my word, Andy ! I have not read your blog for a loooong time ! Are you on hiatus ?????
Posted by andy1076 on March 27, 2018 at 4:41 pm
Ya, I had to take my blog down immediately without much notice when I started seeing my stuff appearing on ig in mass and my writing appearing on a particular prick, so I started a new blog heh ✌️🤗
Posted by D K Powell on March 27, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Wonderful to see the traditions – I’d love to be there one day. I am trying to look into doing some business in the Philippines…anyway, great to see (except the flagellation – yuck!!)
Posted by renxkyoko on March 27, 2018 at 4:11 pm
The flagellation is so gross. I don’t like to see that.
Oh, you are ? DKPowell, , just be careful and take note of local business practices and customs. Attend seminars , so maybe you can check out the embassy there .
Posted by Sarah Ferguson and Choppy on March 27, 2018 at 4:17 pm
I watched a documentary on some of the Holy Week practices in the Philippines a few year ago – just fascinating.
Posted by renxkyoko on March 27, 2018 at 6:17 pm
I didn’t post photos of the really gross ones, especially those of self-flagellations. Aaaargh. Those that I did post were the ” milder ” ones.
Posted by Peter Wells aka Countingducks on March 28, 2018 at 2:34 pm
I was raised in the Catholic church and I remember our Easter celebrations revolved almost entirely round church services from Thursday through to Sunday morning, after a breakfast complete with painted faces on boiled eggs and the traditional Easter eggs displayed in the middle of the table. After the morning service, attention moved towards preparing the traditional Easter meal. It was a period packed with traditions in our family
Posted by renxkyoko on March 29, 2018 at 3:33 am
Easter eggs and bunnies can’t get traction in the Philippines, no matter how hard the merchandisers try. Holloween ‘s successful, though. It’s already in their culture.. Nov. 1 is Todos los Santos, and everyone goes to the cemetery to visit their beloved deceased relatives. It’s even a non-working holiday
Posted by mrphilippines1974pinoytraveler on March 29, 2018 at 6:42 pm
Four years ago , I was in San Fernando pampanga and watched the actual nailing on the cross and it’s really bloody . After the nailing they are being interview and they feel ok
Posted by renxkyoko on March 30, 2018 at 6:56 am
I heard the Catholic Church does not condone this, but can’t do anything about this.
Ouch ! I don’t think I can watch the nailing. * shivers *
Posted by Jessica on March 30, 2018 at 12:11 am
Wow. Thanks for the cultural lesson. I have many Catholic friends in and out of the States, but none in a place like the Philippines where the religious culture is so homogenous. The picture of the empty highway was very telling!
Posted by renxkyoko on March 30, 2018 at 7:32 pm
And no plane flying on Good Friday….. Bakeries and convenience stores are all closed. Doing business on that day is frowned upon.
Posted by Ankur Mithal on March 30, 2018 at 9:22 am
Liquor must be a “partner in crime” of religion.
Posted by renxkyoko on March 30, 2018 at 7:11 pm
Jesus’ miracle…… turned water into wine. ^__^”
Posted by marvaseaton on March 31, 2018 at 11:50 pm
As a Catholic myself the Easter season is very important.
Posted by GP Cox on April 1, 2018 at 11:39 am
Posted by Jonathan Caswell on April 1, 2018 at 8:45 pm
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
INTERESTING TO SEE CHRIST PORTRAYED IN ANOTHER CULTURE…AND WHAT OTHER RELIGIONS DO, COMPETING FOR ATTENTION! 🙂
Posted by jmsabbagh on April 2, 2018 at 7:06 pm
Happy Easter.The greatest mystery of all.The miracle of the resurrection is new life to those who believe,.
Posted by Bespoke Traveler on April 3, 2018 at 9:36 pm
An intriguing peek into one of the religious celebrations of your parental homeland. There are a lot of similarities between the observations you noted and those practiced throughout Spain. It all appears strange, I think, if one hasn’t grown up in that culture.
Posted by mrphilippines1974pinoytraveler on April 5, 2018 at 8:47 pm
Check my post holy week in the Philippines . I took the real nailing in the cross .
Posted by imambertan on April 10, 2018 at 2:36 am
belated happy easter
Posted by YourLastDayOnEarth on May 13, 2018 at 4:07 am
Wow thank you for sharing💛 My husband and children have Filipino heritage and my in-laws are from the Philippines.