Comments on: All Saints’ Day / Undas

by: MasPinaSarap

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 23:39:43 +0000

My grandfather actually died on All Saint’s Day a little over a decade ago. Since then, we light candles, pray, and set out an extra plate of food, cigarettes, candies, and water/Royal for our dead relatives on that day so that they will come and eat. When we wake up, we eat what we can, in the belief that it gives us strength.
This is fairly common for us Filipinos, no?

by: Maria Clara

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 20:26:39 +0000

Beautiful imahen. The ivory face stands out well. Very saintly. It is invaluable – family heirloom piece. Take good care of the imahen. Thanks for sharing this with us.

by: sylvia

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 20:02:08 +0000

If I remember right, my father told me long ago that the story behind the tradition of going to the cemeteries on All Saints’ Day is that people went on that day to clean and spruce up deceased relatives’ tombs in preparation for All Souls’ Day. And, I guess, all that work makes one hungry & thirsty hence the picnic food. Of course, nowadays you hire men to clean up the tombs/plots in preparation for your coming.

by: NYCMama

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 14:52:14 +0000

I also believe this is Mater Dolorosa. My great grand had a lifesize one, although dressed in black, but the face has the same expression. I am very jealous about the eyeball on Saturday!

by: ishdafish

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 12:08:32 +0000

It’s a matter of which is the day off, I guess.

Back in the 70s, when I was a kid and economics or presidents didn’t mess up everything including holidays, people used to go to cemeteries on November 2. Those who went on November 1 went in the evening, and stayed till midnight or past. (These were usually people like us who needed to go back to Manila on the day of November 2, because daddy and mommy had to go back to work. )

Back then, November 2 was also an official holiday, as was Rizal’s birthday and July 4. October 31 was too, I think, but I’m not sure.