Holidays in the Philippines

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The holidays in the Philippines are primarily based on feast days and days of remembrance that are shaped by the Christian faith and the Catholic Church . Therefore, Easter and Christmas are among the most important festivals for the Filipino population. In addition, on special days, one commemorates important people of Filipino history, such as Andrés Bonifacio and José Rizal, or one remembers special historical events.

Description of the holidays

Non-working and regular holidays

In the Philippines, a fundamental distinction is made between non-working holidays and regular holidays. Non-working holidays are special days of remembrance declared or proclaimed by the government. The date of such a day is changeable and can vary. If such a day falls on the weekend, it will in many cases be made up on the following Monday.

Regular holidays are fixed holidays like Christmas and New Years. The date of these days does not change and they are recognized as non-working days even without a special notice from the government.

In both cases, these are days off with regular continued payment of wages or the right to double the hourly wage if you still have to work on one of these days.

Turn of the year

Celebration of the last day of the year (December 31st)

Relying on the tradition of Philippine New Years Day, the Philippine Congress decided to formally recognize December 31 as an annual non-working holiday, as it falls between two official Philippine holidays (Rizal Day on December 30, However, it does not necessarily have to be celebrated on this day, and New Year's Day is on January 1st).

New Years Day (January 1st)

The New Year's Day or Araw ng Bagong Taon is usually celebrated with the family outside the home. The year is welcomed on Bisperas ng Bagong Taon ( New Year's Eve ) with a rich meal called Media Noche (literally, “in the middle of the night”). This meal includes round dishes, dishes based on sticky rice, and a variation of twelve different round fruits, one fruit for each month of the year. Filipinos, Chinese and Spaniards traditionally stay at home, with the latter having an elaborate party and almost always serving a lechón (suckling pig). However, the younger generation, along with immigrants and Americans, are increasingly welcoming the New Year in large hotels, restaurants, parks and on the streets. The children light fireworks such as the Watusi or the Sinturon ni Hudas (the Judas belt), while the adults spend the night remembering the past year, which in many families also includes a reading from the Bible.

Holy Week

The Holy Week or Filipino Semana Santa (the Spanish Semana Santa ) is the only week in which the entire country shuts down his workload. The festivities begin with Linggo ng Palaspas or Domingo de Ramos ( Palm Sunday ) and then extend over Maundy Thursday and Good Friday to the following weekend, which ends in Linggo ng Pagkabuhay ( Easter ). After Sabado de Gloria ( Holy Saturday ), Holy Week ends on Easter Sunday, on which masses are held in the Catholic churches and processions are held at dawn, such as the well-known Salubong , in which the encounter between Jesus and his mother Mary is performed. On this day, celebrations and Easter egg hunts are organized in shopping centers and hotels.

The old Catholic belief that Christ died at three p.m. on Good Friday is still widespread among rural Filipinos. For this reason, travel will not continue at this point and children will be warned not to make noise or play outside. Many believe that evil spirits roam and harm them because Christ is not there to protect them. The normal workload in the country will only be reached again after Easter.

Day of Honor ( Araw ng Kagitingan - April 9th)

On April 9, 1942 , 75,000 Filipino and American soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army surrendered on the southern tip of the Bataan Peninsula, which protrudes into Manila Bay . For almost five months, the troops fought against a superior force until they ran out of drinking water, food and ammunition and medical care could no longer be maintained. As prisoners of war , she and thousands of other Filipinos were transferred to a Japanese army camp located 100 km away. This arduous journey, which consisted of a six-day march, is now known as the Bataan Death March , commemorated every April 9th ​​by Araw ng Kagitingan, or Bataan Day .

Labor Day (May 1st)

The first Labor Day rally took place on May 1, 1903. On that day, several thousand workers, organized by the Union Obrera Democratica (Democratic Workers Union) , marched to the Malacañang Palace to demand better working conditions and economic rights for the workers.

Even today celebrations and parades are not only organized in the Philippines on Labor Day, it is also used as an occasion for demonstrations and rallies by the trade unions.

Independence Day (June 12th)

On July 4, 1946, the Philippines officially became independent from the United States. The treaty that was drawn up between the two governments provided for the recognition of the independence of the Republic of the Philippines and at the same time contained the renunciation of American sovereignty over the Philippines.

Still, the Philippines celebrate their Independence Day on June 12th. This is the anniversary of the declaration of independence from Spain , which was proclaimed on that day in 1898 by the first Philippine President , Emilio Aguinaldo , in his residence in Kawit . On the balcony of his home, General Aguinaldo waved the new national flag while an orchestra played the national anthem for the first time , now known as "Lupang Hinirang" . This scene was depicted on the 5 peso note, which is no longer in circulation, but the banknote was replaced by a coin with the image of Aguinaldo. The nation thus celebrated the 100th anniversary of its independence in 1998.

Between 1946 and 1961, Independence Day was still celebrated on July 4th, before President Diosdado Macapagal , on the advice of historians, set June 12th as the new date for Independence Day. This day had been celebrated as Flag Day until then .

Filipino-American Friendship Day (July 4th)

After independence, July 4th was celebrated as Independence Day in the Philippines up to and including 1961. This year, however, under President Diosdado Macapagal, the opinion prevailed that July 4th would not be the true Independence Day for Filipinos. Instead, this day was to commemorate the declaration of independence from Spain on June 12, 1898 by General Emilio Aquinaldo. On May 12, 1962, President Macapagal therefore declared June 12 to be the new Philippine Independence Day by Presidential Proclamation No. 28 .

In its place, Philippine Republic Day was celebrated on July 4th, so as not to strain the diplomatic and bilateral relations of the Philippines with the United States. In 1996, President Fidel Ramos appointed a National Executive Committee on the occasion of the upcoming commemoration of the 50th anniversary of independence from the USA , which now concluded the Philippine-American Friendship Day.

Ninoy Aquino Day (August 21)

On August 21, the Philippines will commemorate the death of S. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino , the most prominent opponent of the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos . After spending three years in exile in the United States, Aquino returned to the Philippines on August 21, 1983. Just as he was leaving the scheduled plane at Manila Airport , which today bears his name, he was shot on the gangway. This memorial day was created with the entry into force of Republic Act No. 9256 on February 25, 2004, during the 18th anniversary of the EDSA revolution that led to the deposition of Marcos and Aquino's widow Corazon Aquino as the new president of the island state.

National Heroes Remembrance Day

In the Philippines, the national heroes of the country are remembered on this day . National Heroes Remembrance Day always falls on the last Monday in August. It is designated as a regular holiday in the Philippines and is intended to commemorate the cry of Pugadlawin , with which Andrés Bonifacio , the leader of the Philippine revolutionary armed forces, the Katipunan , proclaimed the Philippine Revolution in 1896 .

All Saints' Day ( Todos Los Santos - November 1st)

All Saints' Day , also known as Undas , is celebrated in the Philippines in memory of the dead relatives. November 1st marks the beginning of the Filipino “Araw ng mgba Patay”, the celebration of the Day of the Dead. On the occasion of this festival, families return to their respective roots in the places of their parents, where they clean and repair the graves of their deceased loved ones before they pray for them. The festivities last until All Souls Day, which is celebrated the next day. The two days are traditional Catholic holidays when all saints and the souls of the deceased should be remembered. Although the people of the Philippines honor their dead with happy celebrations, All Saints' Day remains a respectful day of remembrance in memory of the ancestors.

This day was a regular holiday in the Philippines but was changed to a non-working holiday by an executive order issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo .

Eid ul-Fitr

The first day of Shawwal , the tenth month of the Islamic calendar , has been declared a national holiday for the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr or the festival of the breaking of the fast (the end of Ramadan , the ninth month) and on November 13, 2002 by the Republic Act No. 9177 enshrined . The law was enacted with the Filipino Muslim community in mind, not least to promote peace between the country's two major religions.

The first ascent of Eid ul-Fitr was celebrated on December 6, 2002 and has been about eleven days earlier every year since then according to the Gregorian calendar . This creates a moving holiday that is in keeping with the Islamic calendar. For many non-Muslim Filipinos, this holiday is still largely unfamiliar, as it is not yet included in many calendars in the Philippines.

Andres Bonifacio Day (November 30th)

On November 30, 1863, Andrés Bonifacio was born, named after Saint Andrew , whose name day falls on this date. Bonifacio Day is celebrated on November 30th each year and is sometimes confused with National Heroes Remembrance Day.

Celebrating the birthday of someone special is unusual because it is usually the day of death that is commemorated rather than the birthday of a hero or saint. The birthday of the greatest Filipino national hero, Jose Rizal, is celebrated on June 19, just as a public holiday in the Laguna province. Whereas the day of his execution, December 30th, is a national day of remembrance, known as Rizal Day.

In Bonifacio, however, his birthday is remembered for historical reasons, not the date of his death, May 10, 1897. In contrast to Rizal, who was convicted and executed by a hostile institution, or other heroes who died in battle he was killed by comrades and Filipinos. Bonifacio was executed on the orders of the first president, General Emilio Aguinaldo , as he was considered an enemy of the state at that time following the events of the Tejeros assembly.

Christmas Eve (December 24th)

The length of time Filipinos allow for Christmas celebrations is one of the longest, if not the longest, in the world. In the Philippines, the preparations for the festival start in September and these last until the first week of January. Over the holidays, the property is embellished with parols , star-like Christmas lanterns, fairy lights, jewelry and other decorations.

Most families in the archipelago traditionally celebrate Christmas Eve . December 24th is a night without sleep, which turns into the actual Christmas Day as a continuous celebration. The last mass, the Misa de Gallo, is held around midnight and then leads to preparations for the Noche Buena (literally: “Good night” from Spanish), a family celebration that begins after midnight.

The Noche Buena can be seen as an open house. Family, friends, relatives and neighbors come by and wish every family member “Maligayang Pasko!” (Tagalog for “Merry Christmas”). A variety of dishes are offered, which are often presented in the form of a buffet. Guests and visitors are led to the prepared meal in all apartments, even if they are mostly already full. Typical dishes prepared for Christmas in the Philippines include lechón (suckling pig), pancit (a pasta dish), grilled meat, rice, adobo , rice cake, lumpia (meat rolls), etc. These include drinks such as beer, rum and others Spirits offered.

The streets are lit and full of activity that night. The children run in and around the house, alternately playing and eating. The Christmas Eve gathering provides an opportunity for immediate and distant family members to reunite. Some families already use this time to give presents while others wait until the next day.

In general, the Lola , an endearing name for a matriarch or grandmother, is the focal point of the Christmas family celebration. She is given deep respect and is highly revered. The children stand in a row and receive a few coins from their Lola as a small present, with each child receiving more coins the older they are.

In some families, children are asked to sing a Christmas carol, play a musical instrument, recite a poem, or perform a dance on Christmas Eve. The celebrations go on until around six in the morning. Those who were unable to attend mass the night before will now attend mass on Christmas Day.

Christmas Day

The actual Christmas festival combines the memory of the birth of Jesus with various secular customs. As is customary in the Anglican countries, most families in the Philippines receive their presents on December 25th.

Rizal Day (December 30th)

This day commemorates the country's greatest national hero, José Rizal , who was executed by firing squad on December 30, 1898 in what is now Rizal Park .

In contrast to Bonifacio, the birthday of the greatest Filipino national hero on June 19 is only celebrated as a public holiday in the province of Laguna .

List of Holidays

The following are the usual public holidays in the Philippines.

National Holidays

holiday Celebration date German name Native name Official status Special features / description
January 1st January 1st New Years Day Araw ng Bagong Taon Regular holiday First day of the new year
Changing date Changing date Chinese New Years Festival Araw ng Bagong Taon ng mga Tsino Regular holiday Based on the lunar calendar
February 25 February 25 People Power Day Araw ng People Power (Lakas ng Bayan) Public holiday (in individual cases), Metro Manila Remembering the 1986 (EDSA) People Power Revolution
Thursday before Easter Changing date Maundy Thursday Huwebes Santo Regular holiday, changing date Part of the Holy Week celebrations
Friday before Easter Changing date Good Friday Biyernes Santo / Mahal na Araw Regular holiday, changing date Remembering the death of Jesus
Sunday, changing date Changing date Easter Sunday Linggo ng Pagkabuhay Regular holiday Celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ
9th April Next Monday April 9th "Day of Honor"
(Bataan and Corregidor Day)
Araw ng Kagitingan Regular holiday Remembering the Bataan Death March
1st of May Next Monday May 1st Labor Day Araw ng Manggagawa Regular holiday
June 12 Next Monday June 12th Independence day Araw ng Kalayaan Regular holiday Anniversary of the Filipino Declaration of Independence
July 27th July 27th Iglesia Ni Cristo day Araw ng Iglesia Ni Cristo Special non-work holiday Founding anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo
August 21 Next Monday August 21st Benigno Aquino day Araw ng Kabayanihan ni Ninoy Aquino Special non-working holiday Death of Benigno Aquino Jr.
August 31 Last Monday in August National Heroes Remembrance Day Araw ng mga Bayani Regular holiday Remembering the cry of Pugad Lawin, the call for the Philippine Revolution
November 1st November 1st All Saints Day Todos los Santos / Undas /
Araw ng mga Namayapa
National holiday Remembrance day of the saints and the deceased
November 2 November 2 All Souls Araw ng mga Patay Special non-working holiday Remembrance day for the deceased
Changing date Changing date Eidul Fitr (Arabic: Eid al-Fitr) Wakas ng Ramadan Alternating regular holiday Based on the Islamic calendar
30th of November Next Monday November 30th Bonifacio Day Kaarawan ni Bonifacio Regular holiday Birthday of Andrés Bonifacio
24th of December 24th of December Christmas eve Special non-working holiday Christmas celebrations
25 December 25 December Christmas Araw ng Pasko Regular holiday Christmas celebrations
30th of December Next Monday December 30th Rizal day Araw ng Kabayanihan ni Dr. Jose Rizal Regular holiday Anniversary of the death of José Rizal
December 31 December 31 New Year's Eve Bisperas ng Bagong Taon Special national holiday Last day of the year

Local holidays

holiday Celebration date German name Native name Official status Special features / description
January 16 January 16 Sinulog Festival Regional public holiday, Cebu & Tacloban City
February 11th February 11th Day of Evelio Javier Regular public holidays, Antique , Capiz , Aklan and Iloilo
February 24th February 24th Cebu City , City Founding Day Regular public holiday, Cebu
March 18th March 18th Panay Liberation Day Regular public holiday, Iloilo
27th of March 27th of March San Juan day Araw ng San Juan Special non-working holiday
June 19th June 19th Laguna day Araw ng Laguna Special non-working holiday, Laguna Birthday of Dr. José Rizal
June 24th June 24th Manila Founding Day Araw ng Maynila Special Non-Working Public Holiday, Manila
June 30th June 30th Filipino-Spanish Friendship Day Araw ng Pagkakaibigan ng mga Pilipino at Kastila General day
June 30th June 30th Tacloban City , City Founding Day Regular Public Holiday, Tacloban City
July 4th - Filipino-American Friendship Day Araw ng Pagkakaibigan ng mga Pilipino at Amerikano General day Commemoration of the alliance between the Philippine and American armed forces against the Japanese occupation forces at the end of the Second World War.
6th of August 6th of August Day of the founding of the province Provincial Charter Day Regular Public Holiday, Tacloban City
the 9th of September the 9th of September Sergio Osmeña day General public holiday, Cebu City
the 20th of October the 20th of October Day of landing on Leyte Regular Public Holiday, Tacloban City
December 18th December 18th Day of Lopez Jaena Regular public holiday, Iloilo

Special Holidays in the Philippines

  • Constitution Day - February 2, 2002 has been declared a public holiday to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the 1987 Constitution entering into force .
  • As the National Day of Prayer and Fasting - President Joseph Estrada declared the third Saturday in November 1999 and 2000 a public holiday.
  • Rizal Birth Anniversary - June 19, 1961 has been designated as a special holiday by President Carlos P. Garcia to commemorate the 100th birthday of Jose Rizal.
  • Islamic Festival of Sacrifice (Eidul Adha) - President Gloria Arroyo declared November 27th and 28th to be special non-working holidays.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b An Act Rationalizing the Celebration of National Holidays . July 25, 2007. Archived from the original on May 4, 2009. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved December 2, 2007. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ops.gov.ph
  2. TREATY OF GENERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. SIGNED AT MANILA, ON 4 JULY 1946 (pdf) United Nations. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved December 10, 2007. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / untreaty.un.org
  3. Manuel S. Satorre Jr .: President Diosdado Macapagal set RP Independence Day on June 12 . .positivenewsmedia.net. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved December 10, 2008. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.positivenewsmedia.net
  4. ^ Diosdado Macapagal: Proclamation No. 28 Declaring June 12 as Philippine Independence Day . Philippine History Group of Los Angeles. Archived from the original on May 12, 2009. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved December 10, 2008. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bibingka.com
  5. ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 204 - CONSTITUTING A NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP DAY ON 04 JULY 1996 . Chanrobles Law library. July 10, 1995. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
  6. ^ A b How to Celebrate All Saints Day in the Philippines . eHow. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  7. Christmas: A National Fiesta . Pasko! : The Philippine Christmas. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  8. > July 27 is “Iglesia ni Cristo Day” - Malacanang . balita-dot-ph ,. Retrieved July 7, 2009.

Web links