All Hallows’ Eve draws its beginnings from Samhain, a Celtic festival that marks the end of the harvest season. According to ancient Gaelic belief, the day marked a blur between the world of the living and the deceased—a day when the dead could come back to life and wreak havoc on the crops that were collected and gathered.
The ancient festival, in the Middle Ages, gave way to the tradition of people moving from one home to the next, receiving food in return for prayers for the dead. The practice called “souling” was not only in sync with Hallow’s Eve, but also coincided with Hallowmas (November 1st) and All Souls Day (November 2nd). The ritual, called “souling,” eventually paved the way for what we now know as trick or treating.
While the Philippines is oceans away from the Celtic nations, the traditions borne centuries ago have traveled all the way to the islands too. The Americans brought the trick or treating tradition over during their occupation of the country, but even before that, Filipinos have been known to celebrate All Saints Day or Undas on November 1st and 2nd. As in Mexico’s Day of the Dead, Pinoys pay respect to the deceased during these few days, spending all day (and sometimes all night) at cemetery plots—turning the day into a virtual fiesta packed with kakanin, flowers, and the whole family making sure everything from tombstones to family plots to mausoleums are spic and span.
With times changing, traditions have certainly evolved. How are you spending your Halloween holiday?
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