IT’S that time of the year again — for a celebration universally known as Halloween.
Spooky decorations of skeletons, ghosts, witches and pumpkins dangle on windows and lawns with almost the same regularity as Christmas lights.
Parties are organized, with attendees making careful preparations on their costumes.
Each year, in different parts of the world, this extravagant fixation is countered with festivals honoring the dead.
For Catholics and most Pinoys, November 1 and November 2, (All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day respectively) are two of the days where some of the oldest Christian traditions are practiced.
All Saints’ Day (commonly known as “Undas or “Todos los Santos” in the Philippines) is the day the life and times of all the saints are remembered and celebrated. Observed as a holy day of obligation, the faithful are led in prayer to honor holy men and women, including those not listed in the Church calendar.
According to Church officials, this holiday “enriches the faith of all who observe it. When we honor the saints, we actually give glory to God.”
This year’s All Saints’ Day is particularly special for Filipinos. The nation witnessed the rise of Blessed Pedro Calungsod to Sainthood, the second Pinoy saint after San Lorenzo Ruiz.
All Souls’ Day is a time for solemn reunions and trips to visit and honor the resting sites of deceased loved ones, relatives and friends. Traditionally, this day is marked by the offering of prayers, flowers, and lighting of candles.
To ensure a peaceful observance of the Undas weekend, local policemen will be deployed to be on alert and to secure cemeteries. Authorities will also guard vital facilities, including government offices, and land transportation terminals, airports and seaports. Trained rescuers will be deployed in places of convergence in case of emergencies.
“We are one with the Filipino nation in the peaceful and safe observance of ‘Undas 2012.’ We would like to assure the people that our security operations will be intensified and that we are always prepared shall pressing situations and threats arise,” Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr.said.
For those who cannot travel to visit their loved ones, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has made mass requests for the dead available online. Launched last year at undasonline.com, the website feature offers services especially for Filipinos abroad, who cannot make it to their parish this All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. The names of the persons will be included in the masses that will be celebrated at the CBCP Chapel in Intramuros, Manila.
More than the unique practices, Undas is a moment where we revive the memories of those who are not amongst us anymore, and reminisce how they influenced our lives. While any form of celebration is fun, it is also our responsibility to hold the value this holiday represents, and don’t let its sanctity get lost in the way.
(AJPress)
