In the Philippines, All Saints' Day is a very significant and widely celebrated holiday known as 'Undas' or 'Araw ng mga Patay' (Day of the Dead). The Filipino people celebrate this day in remembrance of their deceased family members and loved ones. Each year on November 1st, Filipino families go to cemeteries to spend time at the gravesites of their loved ones, cleaning and repainting tombstones, leaving offerings of food, lighting candles, and sometimes staying overnight.
The customs practiced on All Saints' Day in the Philippines are a blend of indigenous and Christian traditions. This day is marked by family reunions at the cemetery, which features shared meals, music, and sometimes even festive celebration. Many Filipinos will also attend mass or special church services on this day. It's a day of remembrance and homage, but also family camaraderie and the affirmation of bonds between the living and the deceased.
All Saints' Day has been a public holiday in the Philippines since the Spanish colonial period, reflecting the Filipinos' deep-rooted Catholic faith. Yet it is also a rich cultural event that transcends religion. It's a time when most people in the country pause from their daily toils and obligations to honour death as a part of life. This unified celebration of All Saints’ Day is a reflection of how the Filipino culture places high value on family and the continuity of life and death.