CEBU, Philippines - “Do not forget the true essence of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day.”
This was the reminder of Fr. Dave Villaceran, parochial vicar of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, on today’s observance of All Saint’s Day and tomorrow’s All Soul’s Day.
Villaceran said that the celebration of Halloween on the eve of November 1 has been practiced in the country due to the Western influence and that it has been part of our culture.
He said that movies, books, and media have also added on how the Filipinos have conceived as to how the said day should be celebrated.
However, he said that this is how the true essence of “Halloween” was lost.
He explained that Halloween or All Hallows Eve came from the word “Hallow” which means Holy. Villaceran said that this has been done in order to give honor to the saints, particularly the uncanonized saints whose feast is celebrated today.
According to some stories on the history of Halloween, it was believed to have started with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. During the festival, people lit bonfires and wore costumes to scare off or disguise themselves from the ghosts as this was the time believed when portals for ghosts and other beings opened to the real world.
For years, a lot of links were made as to how Halloween was conceptualized but the nearest to how the Philippines currently celebrates it is with the Christian influence during the eighth century when Pope Gregory IV alloted November 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs.
Villaceran said that this is why the celebration should be made in honor of the saints.
“This celebration has nothing to do with ghosts, devils, manananggals (a mythical creature of the Philippines, similar to the American vampire but known for leaving the lower part of her body and flying off to prey on victims) and other forms which are commonly portrayed during Halloween.”
He clarified that it is acceptable to celebrate Halloween as long as the “true essence” of the celebration would be present.
He cited a church in Laguna who celebrates Halloween by having a procession where people, especially young kids, dress up as saints. A parish in Mambaling, Cebu City, also adapted this, where children, instead of the scary costumes used to trick or treat, dress up as saints.
“Yesterday and today, most importantly, should be the days to pray and ask for the intercession of these saints. We need to remember their good acts on why they were made saints.”
Same goes for All Soul’s day, he said, where we should remember our departed loved ones. He said that it is acceptable for people to go to the cemetery and bring food, eat with their families, but not intentionally to celebrate, especially in a festive mood.
“We gather in the cemetery with our family in order to pray for our loved ones, to commemorate, to pay our respects and to remember what they have done good.”
He also said that even those out of the country who does not have the chance to visit their departed loved ones in the cemetery can still observe All Saint’s and All Soul’s day by praying and going to mass.
Also, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will again offer their “Undas Online” for Filipinos abroad.
OFWs can visit www.undasonline.com where podcasts and catechesis on the significance and liturgical meaning of the celebration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day is offered as well as means for OFWs to request for prayers and Masses for the dead. The website has the “prayer request” link where people can type down the names of the dead whom they wish to offer mass. — (FREEMAN)