Holidays and Festivals
By: The GoAbroad Team
Posted on: Philippines, People and Culture
* New Year's Day - January 1
* People Power Day - February 25
* Day of Valor - April 9
* Labor Day - May 1
* Independence Day - June 12
* Ninoy Aquino Day - August 21
* All Saints' Day - November 1
* Bonifacio Day - November 30
* Christmas Day - December 25
* Rizal Day - December 30
* New Year's Eve - December 31
Philippines being predominantly inhabited by Catholic, observe holidays for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday. These dates vary year after year, but usually happens in either the month of March or April. Apart from that, to pay respect for the Muslim Filipinos, the country also observe a holiday for the last day of Ramadan (locally known as Wakas ng Ramadan) which also varies in date as based on the Islamic calendar.
Festivals in the Philippines
Filipinos being truly religious with so much affinity of the Spanish influence celebrates fiesta with festivals. Some of the major festivals in the Philippines are:
ATI-ATIHAN
Kalibo, Aklan, January
The Ati-Atihan Festival pay tribute to the folk Bornean chieftain settlers and the primitive Ati King Marikudo as one of the few immigrant in the Philippines.
SINULOG
Cebu City, January
Cebu City's fiesta of fiestas. Celebrated in honor of the Holy Child of the shores, Sr. Sto. Nino. the Sinulog is a ancestral tradition observed in the part of Visayas region particularly in Cebu. The prayer-dance is synchronized to the beat of drums and bellow of "Pit Señor! Viva Sto. Niño!"
FLORES DE MAYO / SANTACRUZAN
Nationwide, May
This month-long celebration is done in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Women and children attend Catholic Catechism everyday as well as a mass in the afternoon while praying the rosary and offering flowers to the image of the Blessed Mother. As a culmination activity, on May 31, A parade of the town's loveliest ladies, depicting the search and discovery of Christ's Cross by Queen Helena and Constantine is done. The queens are named Sagala, Reyna Elena while the prince are Prinsipe Constantino.
There are a lot of festivals going on in the Philippines all year round. Almost all of its provinces are celebrating festivals in honor of their patron saints, character of the locals or legends of some provinces.
photo by: benjroberts
