When the first day of November came, Filipinos celebrated All Saints day. Here in the Philippines we called it Undas. It's a term called every November 1 when people go to the cemetery and visiting thier loveones grave as part of the celebration of All Saints day and All souls day. They are offering prayers and lightning up some candles on the grave.
Before November 1 came , Filipino already having some preparation for the said event. As early as September they are buying some candles, going to cemetery cleaning and painting the graves.
How Filipinos celebrating Undas?
Filipinos has different way of celebrating Undas as not all Filipinos believing on it. Mostly Roman Catholic are the ones who are actively participating with this celebration. They have different ways of remember thier love ones who passed away. As for me I am a Born Again Christian. Personally I don't believe with this celebration but as a person who lives in a Catholic clan I also went to cemetery and visit my grandparents grave together with them.
Yesterday I was with them visiting my grandparents grave.
We also went to my mother in-laws grave together with my husband's clan.
What people usually do in the cemeteries every Undas?
For some family here in the Philippines. Undas serves as a reunion to them. If you noticed every Undas families are together offering prayers and visiting thier love ones grave. They are spending the whole day in the cemetery with some activities to avoid boredom.
Some families are preparing a lot of foods during Undas and it feels like fiesta in the cemetery. Yesterday we brought some food like pizza , pancit , sodas and snacks.
Some families are bringing something like guitar or cards and play while staying on the cemetery. Some families are just sharing some stories and reminiscing some memories about thier loveones who passed away.
Lighting up some lights in the house.
Some Filipinos doing this routine every Undas. They are lighting up some candles infront of thier house of beside the door because they believe that the soul of thier loveones will enter the house and they need light as a guide.
Yesterday my father in-law light up some candles and they he turned off our lights. I don't have a say in terms of that as I respect thier beliefs.
Undas has a big part of the culture on the Philippines and weather we believe it or not people will going to celebrate it yearly. We just need to respect thier beliefs.
That's all for today's blog. Thank you for reading.