No Halloween

Traditionally, we don’t celebrate Halloween. We celebrate All Saints’ Day on November 1 and and All Souls’ Day on November 2. On All Saints’ Day, we go to the cemetery and visit the tombs of departed relatives or friends , light candles, offer prayers for them and bring flowers . We also go to church or offer masses for the dead.

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On All Souls’ Day, we go to church and those who were not able to go to the cemetery the day before do so on this day. There are those who visit the cemetery a few days before or after All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day to avoid the large crowds as these days are usually big reunions for families and friends. It’s a celebration for the living.

Asian Journal

Slowly, because of the internet, movies and social media, Halloween has been observed in malls initially, then themes for parties and TV shows and lately in some villages. But even with the concept of Halloween creeping into our tradition, All Saints Day and All Souls Day are still days for remembering our departed loved ones.

However, there were traditions that have been forgotten through the passage of time.

All Saints’ Day, in addition to the visit to the cemetery, which is still observed today, was celebrated with “pangangaluluwa,” very much like caroling. I remember the songs sung then. The more popular one had these lyrics:

Kami po’y kaluluwang tambing

Sa purgatoryo nanggaling

Ang gawa po namin doon

Araw, gabi’y manalangin

Kaluluwa’y dumaratal

Sa tapat ng durungawan

Kampanilya’y tinatangtang

Ginigising ang may bahay

Di ba ninyo natatalos

Na ngayo’y Todos los Santos

Kaluluwa’y lumilibot

At humihingi ng limos

Kung kami po’y lilimusan

Dali-daliin po lamang

At baka kami’y pagsarhan

Ng pinto ng kalangitan

There was another one which was mellower and more melancholic, with a slower tempo.

Kung gabi ng mga kaluluwa

Tayo’y nagdarasal para sa kanila

Hinahandugan ng mga bulaklak

Ipinagdarasal sa magdamag

The song was followed by a greeting “Magandang gabi po!” Or “Nangangaluluwa po.”

My parents also told us kids then the All Saints’ Day tradition in their youth, which already disappeared during our time. But they had mixed reactions, a bit of nostalgia, and a bit of gratitude. It was a night for pranks. There was that neighbor who left clothes in the clothesline overnight and found them at the town plaza the next morning. Then there was a town mate whose chicken in the yard was found hitched in the neighbor’s yard.

This year however will always be remembered as the year that we were not able to celebrate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day as we have traditionally done because of restrictions imposed due to COVID 19. Many were willing to celebrate within the restrictions and went on designated days starting Mid October ,following health protocols but on November 1, super typhoon Rolly (international name Goni) landed and totally killed the celebration of the day for the dead.

Note:

The portion on past traditions on All Saints’ Day was a part of the author’s article published in Panorama, The Manila Bulletin Sunday Magazine.