All Saints Day

[frosty (chris)]

On the 1st Nov was All Saints Day here, a day when families go to pay their respects to family members that have passed away. My g/f's mother passed a year ago and I was asked with all the family to go to the cemetery and pay my respects. As I am not a religious person I did hesitate but she said it would be no problem, just come along and enjoy the occasion ( her words). Well we made some sandwiches to take, and of course rice as well ( the family had a bbq ready at the cemetery).The cemetery is in Cebu City not far from Ayala Mall, I have been there before when only a few people were around, but this night was absolutely packed, wall to wall people, all lighting little candles to place in front of there dear departed's headstone, it was almost a carnival atmosphere, sure there was a lot of sadness but plenty of smiles and greetings from seldom seen relatives and friends. It is strange place, most western cemeteries have coffins buried in the ground but here they are cemented on top of each other 4 high with a headstone at the front and I suppose in a section there would be 200 to 300 coffins and there are thousands there, just lines and lines of them, they are even running out of space so now they are building like multi story carparks to fit more in, it's really weird to see, especially at night with all the lights,  the more affluent are buried in the ground or mausoleums even. As the night wore on there were bible recitals and even choirs singing, it was something I never had experienced before and when talking with the family later they were very surprised that the same thing doesn't happen in my country. As with all things filipino, even in death, there is a party, so on arriving at the family home in Bulucao out came the guitar and the red horse, we all sang and drank and danced till the early hours, another truly wonderful experience for me in the Philipinnes and a wonderful family to share it with.

[Methersgate]

 

K and her mother on All Souls' Day, visiting the family plot. 

[El Negrito]

Interesting post, we have something similar here in Mexico but it is called Dia de Los Muertos or day of the dead. I personally hate it as it is a mixture of all souls day and some celebrations to indigenous gods and it is all steeped in occultism and spiritism if you do a little research. Sad thing is people don't even know it and they take their kids out trick or treating on that day in addition to Halloween (another holiday I hate for the same reasons. Those things just give me the shivers. Plus I prefer to honor and remember those that have passed more often, especially my beautiful late wife who I think of every day. All that said it is interesting to see and be exposed to other cultures. Canada much like the UK really doesn't do much on All Souls Day, some go to church but not many.

K and her mother on All Souls' Day, visiting the family plot. 

 

Holidays aside your lady looks amazing in this picture Andrew!  :cheersty:

[Tukaram (Tim)]

I went back to province with my wife to go to the cemetery with her.  That is twice now I have done it - I will probably skip it next year.  Just a bit too much silliness for me ha ha.  I've always seen cemeteries as a waste of real estate.  I don't care what happens to a shirt I am done with and care even less what happens to my body. 

 

But I do miss a good Halloween party!   My favorite holiday of the year.     :tiphat:

[scott h]

we have something similar here in Mexico

 

That's where the custom comes from EN, you might (or might not be) surprised how many customs and such the Philippines share with Mexico (goes back to the Manila Galion days).

 

We are fortunate our family plot is a short walk away, and yes we spruced it up, went and said a rosary and the wife spend the afternoon talking with friends and relatives.

[Methersgate]

olidays aside your lady looks amazing in this picture Andrew! 

 

Her mother is pretty striking, for a lady in her mid-sixties. K has one widowed sister, who is also lovely inside and out, but she was widowed five years ago and has not looked at another man, and maybe she never will.

[Kuya John]

I went back to province with my wife to go to the cemetery with her.  That is twice now I have done it - I will probably skip it next year.  Just a bit too much silliness for me ha ha.  I've always seen cemeteries as a waste of real estate.  I don't care what happens to a shirt I am done with and care even less what happens to my body. 

 

But I do miss a good Halloween party!   My favorite holiday of the year.     :tiphat:

Glad to hear you joined in the spirit of things.....each to their own my friend... :bedtime2:

November 1st All Saint's Day

November 2nd All Souls day

They are celebrated with a mass of obligation by Catholics, both days

Edited November 14, 2014 by Kuya John

[JJReyes]

Funny story. A professional photographer from Denmark and our house guest wanted to visit the Chinese cemetery in Manila to take photographs. This was a few days before All Saints Day when families members were sprucing up the graves. After receiving permission, we entered what looked like a small house and our friend started taking his pictures of the family tombs. Suddenly, there was the sound of a toilet flushing. Our son, who was around 6 years old, needed to go. He found the toilet through an unmarked door. The family, obviously wealthy Chinese, had included a toilet as part of the design. Our friend, coming from a country like Denmark, thought it was one of funniest thing he encountered in the Philippines. The story appeared in a German publication. The cover picture was the cemetery toilet. Through the toilet window you could see other nearby graves.

Edited November 16, 2014 by JJReyes

[Kuya John]

JJReyes

 A recent Documentary here in UK, showed many families actually living in the cemetery in a part of Manila!

so that toilet would come very useful. Living with the dead.

[scott h]

showed many families actually living in the cemetery

 

It seems a yearly thing John. Just before All Saints Day the government goes through all the cemeteries, picks up all the trash, chases out the squatters, (uh informal settlers I mean :unsure: ) and make things nice for the families, till next year lolol. We have a couple of rich tombs in our cemetery like JJ refers to, one even has a small kitchen. Family shows up makes a day of it, then locks it up till next year.

 

Every year the local news does stories about those that live in the cemeteries, tugging at the heart strings I suppose. But like I said, they are right back the next day.