Today is Ash Wednesday and it marks the start of the Catholic Holy Week celebrations in the Philippines and in different parts of the globe.
The culmination of the Holy Week Celebration is Easter Sunday. Easter is considered as more important than Christmas because Christ was resurrected on Easter, saved us and gave us eternal life. Without Easter, Jesus Christ will just be a baby boy born in a manger. The Easter is the foundation of the Catholic Faith.
As the only country in Asia which is predominantly Christian, the Philippines celebrate Holy Week with the same passion as Christmas. Whereas Philippines Christmas is marked with cheers and festivities, Catholic Holy Week in the Philippines is more solemn, sometimes bordering on melancholy.
Devout Catholics celebrate Holy Week with fasting and abstinence. Meat is not eaten and some would go on fluid diet. Although it is not mandated by the Catholic Church, there are religious who celebrate Catholic Holy Week with self-flagellation. Some would even volunteer to be nailed on the cross during the reenactment of the Passion of Christ.
Every Philippine province would have their own reenactment of the Passion of Christ. Some would just be a simple program while others very extravagant and would include a real crucifixion. In Western Visayas, the more famous reenactment was the Pagtaltal sa Jordan in Guimaras Province which I visited last year.
Some Catholics would make the Lent as a time to reaffirm their faith and spend the holiday in reflection.However, there are those who spend the Holy Week on the beach, taking advantage of the Holiday. With the implementation of the holiday economics, there will be ten long weekends this year including the week before the Holy Week.
No matter how you may choose to spend the Holy Week, I think what’s important is we don’t lose the essence of the Holy Week. I may at times be remiss of my Christian obligations but during Holy Week, I would often reflect on my faith and life in general. Profound, huh?
image credit: deejaymarlon
{ 2 trackbacks }
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi there! I miss going through the Holy Week in the Philippines. It’s very interesting to see how the country transforms. Many people leave the cities and go to the provinces. And the colorful processions- they’re quite an experience to behold. I’d be one of those people who spend the days at the beach, but at night, I love to see how the rituals unfold.
Karmis last blog post..I heart Pablo Simonetti
Oh my God, am I really too busy lately?? What I am doing?
I didn’t remember this Ash Wednesday until I read your article.
I hope this 40 Holy Days will changes me some. Thanks for the article.
@Karmi – it’s really hot here in the Philippines during the Holy Week so the beach would be the usual destination.However, even in Boracay there’s still a procession of the way of the cross being conducted.
@Deonald – Thanks for dropping by. Well, don’t wait for the Holy Week to change if you need it.:-D