Guide on Holy Week Traditions in the Philippines that Many Filipinos Follow
HOLY WEEK TRADITIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES – You can check a list of the most popular practices during Holy Week in the country.
Are you one of the Christians who deeply join the Holy Week observance every year? It is one of the highest religious occasions in the Christian belief that countless Roman Catholics practice several traditions every Holy Week,
The Holy Week observance is held in the last week of Lent. It is a commemoration of the sufferings, death, and rising of Jesus Christ from the dead. This year, the Holy Week 2024 schedule falls on the last week of March. Many people spend it in prayers, contemplations, and observance of the Holy Week traditions in the Philippines.
Speaking of traditions, there are several Holy Week traditions in the Philippines and here are some of those that are widely-observed by many people:
Fasting
A lot of Christians most especially Roman Catholics observe fasting on the days leading to the Holy Week highlights to Black Saturday. Many people refrain from eating meat and just eat moderately. They avoid the feeling of fullness as they fast from eating meat.
Seven Churches Visitation
Also one of the Holy Week traditions in the Philippines is the Visita Iglesia or the act of visiting seven (7) churches to pray before the Blessed Sacrament in each church. Countless individuals visit seven (7) churches during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Siete Palabras
Every Good Friday, the Siete Palabras is performed in churches or aired on televisions and radio stations. . This program features the seven (7) last words of Jesus Christ and the airing starts at 12 noon and ends at 3:00 p.m., the hour when the Son of God Jesus Christ triumphantly conquered death and saved mankind with his dying on the cross.
Senakulo
Although it is not as widely-practiced as it was before, there are still areas where Senakulo is held every Holy Week. It is the reenactment of the suffering of Jesus Christ leading up to His death on the Cross. It is usually a live performance that many people want to witness.
Pabasa
Also one of the Holy Week traditions in the Philippines is the Pabasa which is an uninterrupted reading or chanting of the Passion, an early 16th Century epic poem narrating the life, passion, and death of Jesus Christ. The Pabasa is done until the Maundy Thursday which commemorates the washing of the feet of the disciples by Jesus Christ.
Salubong
In the morning of Easter Sunday, the Salubong is a Holy Week tradition that draw a lot of people. Countless individuals join the tradition that commemorates the meeting of Mary and Jesus Christ after He rose from the dead. In the Visayan language, it is called Sugat.