Revisiting Halloween in the Philippines

With the forces of globalization, secularization, social media, and whatever else, the Halloween I remember as a child in the Philippines in the 1980s, or what’s called “Todos Los Santos” (All Saints Day) or “Undas” might be morphing into something completely different nowadays. It might also be losing its meaning, its value, and ultimately its sacredness.

I don’t even remember it being called “Halloween” in the Philippines. But the Undas I remember celebrating, much like Christmas, Holy Week, and the barrio fiestas (town feasts), is a very big deal. We didn’t wear costumes or go trick-or-treating—none of that, and that’s why our first Halloween in America was a big culture shock. It was completely different back in the Philippines. Undas is a holiday which, for many, meant no school and no work and we’d spend the entire day at the cemetery where our departed loved ones are buried, and just hang out, pray, sing, play cards, make large balls made of the melted candlewax, and also do some kuwentuhan (storytelling). It is almost like a reunion because everyone else is there—immediate family, cousins, distant cousins, grandparents, grandkids, and even the neighbors. Some of them even came from far places just for that holiday. We are all there to pay respect and homage to our departed loved ones and our ancestors, to honor and celebrate their legacies, and to pray for the repose of their souls. As a kid, I never really understood what we did nor why we did them. We just did them and somehow it all made sense. But having been separated from this Filipino tradition for years now and having been accustomed to the American version of Halloween, I got to compare and contrast, and more importantly delve deep into what this holiday really means.

The origin of the word Halloween comes from the old English that means “Holy.” To hallow means to make holy or sacred, to sanctify, and to honor. And so on Halloween, we honor those who have gone before us, the Saints and the dead. And the celebration starts the night before All Saints’ Day. All Hallows’ Eve means All Saints’ Eve. All Saints Day and All Souls Day are two separate events but are related and together makes one big celebration in the Philipines. All Saints Day is on November 1 and All Souls Day is on November 2. We remember all the Saints who have gone before us, to remind us of the rewards of living a saintly life here on earth. We remember all the souls, especially those who are dear to us, to pray for their souls. We remember them, we honor them, and we simply spend time with them. As one family of God, we stay in “communion” with them and the Saints.

It’s not about being completely against pop culture. I can’t condemn the little ones participating in pop culture to dress up and go trick-or-treating. I don’t mind the plethora of scary movies showing on TV and in theaters. Pop culture will do its thing but it might help if we Christians understand what it is that we are getting into and do some critical thinking. Let us then use the momentum of this holiday as a teaching opportunity and teach our children what Halloween truly is about. Time, geography, people, culture, traditions, and history might try to alter the external superficialities but we need to remember, preserve, and safeguard the essence and the sacredness of this beautiful holiday.