While some people are busy preparing their costumes for Halloween and Trick or Treat parties, here in the Philippines, Filipinos are busy preparing for Undas.
Undas is the Philippines’ celebration of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. This the tradition where Filipinos honor the dead by visiting their remains in cemeteries, remember them and pray for their souls in heaven. This explains why November 1 and 2 is included in our list of non-working holidays.
Family members go over to departed loved ones’ in cemeteries to celebrate Undas together. Putting up tents, cleaning up the lapida or graves are a common tradition annually.
Candles are lit up and prayers are said for their departed loved ones throughout the day. Family members also come by (cousins, aunties, uncles) to pay their respects.
Filipinos love to sing. Some families bring instruments like guitar so that after the prayers, they will have time to share stories, have singing sessions and kids play outside the mausoleum if they’re allowed to by their parents. This is where things get more festive and colorful.
FOOD! Food is also one of the featured staples during Undas. Each family bring their own snacks, lunch or dinner to share with other family members. Sandwich is the most common snack to bring in the cemetery. Also, Adobo is one of the best served viands or ulam most families bring. Because it doesn’t go bad even if you keep it the whole day.
And before All Saints Day and All Souls Day begins, people from work are trying to get that early leave so that they can travel to their own provinces by car or bus to be with their families to celebrate Undas. Some people also take their time to squeeze in some side travels like going to the nearest beach and spending time with their families and friends.
BUT! Before anything else, people may also prepare “that” extra budget on their pockets especially those who will travel to their lovely provinces. But don’t worry, we got you on this one. Even if you’re almost “out of time” just go to our website, apply for a loan and get approved within 24 hours! So, you can shrug off that petsa de peligro moment and spend time with your family without any worries.
These are some ways of how Filipinos celebrate November 1 or what we call UNDAS. Some cultures may celebrate differently but at the end of the day, we all pay respect and pray for our departed loved ones’.