EVERY year, cemeteries across the Philippines become bustling hubs of remembrance on November 1 and 2, as families observe All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, more commonly known as Undas.For Pinoys, this season is not just about paying respects; it’s also a time to celebrate life, family, and memory.
Here are eight meaningful ways Filipinos honor their departed loved ones during Undas:
- Gather for a family reunion
Much like Christmas, Undas is a chance for families to come together. Many travel hours to their provinces, cleaning and decorating graves, bringing flowers, and reminiscing about loved ones.
2. Do prayer vigils
Faith plays a central role in Undas. Families light candles, pray, and hold vigils around tombstones to wish peace and eternal rest for the departed.
3. Offer “Atang”
Before heading to the cemetery, families prepare the favorite dishes of their late relatives. These food offerings, called atang, are laid beside graves, believed to nourish the spirits of the deceased.
Among the Ilocano and other indigenous groups, atang is a ritual to honor spirits and ask for blessings, often including sticky rice cakes like suman and dudul, caramelized popped rice (busi), fermented sugarcane wine (basi), and betel nuts with piper leaves (bua ken gawed).
4. Enjoy picnics
After making offerings, families often turn the gravesite into a mini picnic spot. Mats, tents, tables, and chairs are set up to comfortably enjoy food together, making the cemetery a place of fellowship and remembrance.
5. Share stories
Families share memories of their loved ones, passing down stories across generations. Kids and teens often spice things up with ghost stories, blending remembrance with a touch of spooky fun.
6. Sleep in the cemetery
Some families choose to spend the night in the cemetery, bringing sleeping bags and mats to extend their time with their departed loved ones, creating a unique bond even after death.
7. Set up altars at home
Those unable to visit cemeteries set up mini altars at home with pictures and personal items of their deceased relatives, lighting candles and offering prayers as a heartfelt tribute.
8. Make offerings of love
Whether at the cemetery or at home, offerings remain central to Undas. From prayers, flowers, candles, and food to attending a eucharistic mass, Pinoys express their love and remembrance in countless meaningful ways.
Undas, for many Filipinos, is more than a holiday; it’s a celebration of family, heritage, and enduring love for those who came before us.