Filipinos are celebrating All Saints Day and All Souls Day every 1st and 2nd day of November. It’s one of the most celebrated traditions in our country. We call it “Undas” or “Fiesta ng mga Patay” in Tagalog. In Waray-waray language, we call it 'Araw ng mga Kalag’.

Fiesta, yes this is almost a festivity as families are going to cemeteries to pray and celebrate. It’s a whole day activity and to some, they even spend it overnight. It’s like a party or reunion as we are also bringing foods aside from flower and candles.

Some communities are also holding Halloween Party and “Trick or Treat”. But most Filipino families are spending the day at the cemetery. We are preparing flowers and candles as our offer to our loved ones who already passed away. With this, we believe that the souls of our loved ones are with us to celebrate with that important day with them. This is our way of showing our faithfulness that God  made a paradise for the soul of those people who departed.

In the Philippines, the holiday is called Todos los Santos (All Saints Day), Undas (from Spanish andas, or possibly honra), or Araw ng mga Patay (Day of the Dead), and has more of a family-reunion atmosphere. Historically, these traditions were imported when the Philippines were governed out of Mexico City as part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. Tombs are cleaned or repainted, candles are lit, and flowers are offered. Entire families camp in cemeteries and sometimes spend a night or two near their relatives' tombs. Card games, eating, drinking, singing and dancing are common activities in the cemetery. It is considered a very important holiday by many Filipinos (after Christmas and Holy Week), and additional days are normally given as special nonworking holidays (but only November 1 is a regular holiday).

CREDITS:

http://pinaykeypoint.wordpress.com/2008/11/01/undas-sa-pinas-2008/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead