While American children were busy getting dressed up as their favorite character and going door to door "Trick or Treating" on the evening of October 31, we were waking up to one of the biggest Filipino holidays- All Saints Day. During the Araw ng mga Patay (literally- day of the many dead), Filipinos go to the cemetery to remember their dead, clean the graves, and decorate them with flowers, balloons, and candles. While the purpose is somber, the effect is a picnic or a tailgate atmosphere, full of merrymaking and laughter and so we've heard lots of alcohol. Crowds flock to the cemetery, and some even stay overnight. It is a party like atmosphere with family reunions among the tombs. This custom which in parts of the world is a Catholic holiday is actually thought to predate the Spanish introduction of Catholicism in the 16th century. Asian cultures are generally known for a great reverence, love and respect toward their ancestors. It is thought that Catholic missionaries encouraged them to move this day to November 1st or 2nd so it would coincide with the Roman Catholic feasts of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. It is not really a Christian holiday, but one steeped in tribal spiritism. It is also a day of large crowds. We opted to just stay home. There is a large cemetery just down the hill from us and we didn't want to get caught up in the traffic surrounding it. That road is crowded enough on a regular day. This is a picture of a cemetery here in Manila. You can see the tents set up in the background getting ready for the big event.
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