Beyond Halloween

Zombies, draculas, witches.

It’s that time of the year again! Halloween, that is. In the Philippines, however, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are basically called the “Undas” season. How does a typical Juan celebrate it?

Filipinos remember their dearly departed on All Saints’ Day, November 1, although ideally All Souls’ Day, November 2 is the day for the dead. These are two of the special and usually non-working holidays in the country.

However, there are instances that October 31 is declared a non-working holiday to give way for the preparation of the people to return to their provinces so that they will be united with their loved ones and remember the souls of their departed family and/or friends together.

Nights at the cemetery

Cemeteries are usually dull and lifeless for 362 days. People start to gather and stay on the graves of their beloved on October 31. Some come to visit for hours; and some stay overnight. Thus, the ambiance becomes festive, believe it or not.

People usually clean and decorate the tombs. Others remember their loved ones by offering flowers and candles. After saying a prayer, the rest of the day becomes a reunion among the living relatives.

Dares, games, and stories

Here is something perhaps every Filipino could relate to as what kids and kids at heart normally do while their elders are busy praying for the souls of their relatives: dares about reading the names and years of death engraved on the neighboring tombstones, or making wax balls out of the melted candles, or exchanging ghost stories.

Appeal

Because the Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country, Filipinos believe that their departed loved ones are in purgatory — a state after death wherein souls are made pure through sufferings before they can enter heaven. That’s why at least once a year, if not every day, we pray for their souls.

Souls and Saints

Why is there a need to pray for their souls? Catholics believe that the dead cannot do anything about their state anymore. They have done their part here on earth: if they were good, they will suffer a little while in purgatory; otherwise, they will suffer more. That is where the prayers of the living enter. It is believed that prayers will help ease the sufferings of the souls in purgatory.

When they are purified in purgatory, they enter heaven — thus, they become saints and become a part of the “Triumphant Church”. Since they are now closer to God, they then intercede for the living. It becomes their turn to pray for the Church on earth. That is the cycle Catholics believe in.

If the All Souls’ Day belief is real, and faith tells the Catholics it is, the souls will be feasting on the prayers. However, it’s not just during these two days that you can make your dearly departed happy. By including them in your everyday prayers, it is also that their sufferings are lessened day by day.

Well, if you get to remember your beloved in a not so pleasant way, then it might mean that they are asking for your prayers. Or maybe they just want to greet you “Happy Halloween!” (Tiziana Celine S. Piatos)