Guide on Pinoy Traditions during UNDAS: Do You Still Practice Them?
PINOY TRADITIONS DURING UNDAS – Here are the things that most Filipinos do during All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2) observance as well as their significance.
Is your family among those that observe UNDAS traditions? November 1 is one of the Philippine holidays for 2025 and Malacañang has also declared October 31, 2025 as a special non-working day to give countless Filipinos the chance to travel home before the actual observance of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in the country.
Every UNDAS, there are practices that many Filipino observe. Here are some of the Pinoy traditions during UNDAS and their significance:
Visiting Cemeteries
Undeniably, the most popular Pinoy traditions during UNDAS is visiting the cemeteries. Many Filipino families head to cemeteries to light a candle and offer flowers and prayers for their deceased family members. In fact, many families stay in cemeteries for several hours until night time. There are even those who decorate the tombs and graves of their loved ones with flowers.
Feasting & Sharing of Food
A lot of Filipinos also prepare food. Families and friends gather on a sumptuous meal. Many Filipinos also prepare sticky foods which is believed to signify the tightness of the family even despite a loss of a member due to death.
Reminiscing Departed Family Members
Many Filipino families love to gather and reminisce our deceased loved ones through storytelling. Truth be told that we Filipinos love to keep memories close to our hearts and it brings both immense joy and heartache to recall our yesteryears when they were still with us as we long for another story time with them, too.
Lighting Candles
Also one of the most popular Pinoy traditions during UNDAS is the lighting of candles. This does not only happen in cemeteries but as well as at homes. Many Filipinos believe that love light is unfading. Some Filipinos even believe that the souls of our deceased loved ones visit us during this time.
Among the Pinoy traditions during UNDAS stated above, which of them do you still practice?