Happy Sunday Hivers!
Back then, during All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day, my two brothers would always go home to my mother’s province in Leyte. But for the past two consecutive years, they’ve stayed here in Cebu instead. Every time we’re all here, my siblings and I go to our father’s house for dinner, and after eating, we visit the cemetery together to offer our prayers.
We now visit the cemetery at night, unlike before. Our father is older now, and we don’t want him to be exposed to the heat from the sunlight, so we go after dinner instead. His body isn’t as strong as it used to be, back then, he could handle visiting during the day, but now he easily gets tired.
We visited two cemeteries that night. The first was the old cemetery, where my father’s parents and some of his siblings are buried. Most of our relatives are laid to rest there since it’s the old public cemetery. After that, we went to the private cemetery, where my father’s sister and brother-in-law are buried.
We also met some of our other relatives who were there to offer prayers as well. You know, it’s not just about observing All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day for us. In the Philippines, families really gather at the cemetery, it almost feels like a reunion. Some even stay overnight, bringing food and guitars, singing together while sharing stories. It’s not only about offering prayers but also about spending time and remembering our departed loved ones, as if they’re still with us, celebrating the day like a family reunion with them.
I’m not sure if it’s the same for others, but maybe it’s just us Filipinos who celebrate All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day this way. It’s more than just a tradition, it’s a heartfelt gathering, a time to remember, and a way of keeping our departed loved ones close, even for just a day.
We didn’t stay long at the cemetery because it was raining heavily. We also hadn’t had much sleep in the past few days because of the vigil for my father’s sibling who recently passed away, so we decided not to stay too long at the cemetery.
In your country, do you celebrate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day the same way we do? I know every place has its own traditions, but I’m really curious about yours. Feel free to share or comment below.
Thank you for reading and see you on my next blog. Cheers!
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Namaste! I am fond of reading books, watching korean, american and filipino series/movies and I am also fond of gardening. I love listening to different life stories and I am always captivated with the beauty of nature so travel is my escape when life turns into blue. But hey, how could I forget my photography hobby? It is one of the best, so follow me as I will be featuring my experiences of the stuff that I am passionate with.
