Superstitions and Beliefs Surrounding ALL SAINTS/ SOULS DAY in the Philippines

All Saints’ Day is an important day in many Catholic countries. As the Philippines is the world’s third largest Catholic country, it is widely observed. Traditionally, All Saints’ Day marks a Roman Catholic holiday which celebrates saints who were not awarded their own feast days. It also marks a celebration of the lives of the deceased.

All Saints’ Day in the Philippines is celebrated similarly to the way the holiday is marked in other former Spanish colonies. On November 1st each year, people flock to their family plots in cemeteries across the country. They also use this holiday to hold a family reunion where groups of an extended family gather together.

The day is filled with celebration and food. There is also prayer and religious traditions. At the end of the day, people sometimes camp overnight in the cemetery to pay their respects to their relatives who have passed.

Filipinos are known for having great respect for their dead. To prepare for ‘Undas’, families will visit the graves of their ancestors before the holiday to clean up the area and perform maintenance. During the holiday, people will decorate the graves with flowers and candles.

In addition to this, other Catholic traditions are observed. Many churches will hold a special mass during the day. It is also often marked by periods of prayer and the recitation of the Litany for the Dead.

This holiday is a mix of the observance of the dead and a joyful holiday. Families bring plenty of food and drink for their dead relatives. Some believe that the deceased are taking part in the feast alongside the living. While most bring food directly to the cemetery, other families will also leave food at home on altars for any relatives who aren’t buried in the cemetery.

All Saints/ Souls Day Origin

Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain which marked the end of harvest and the beginning of winter, a time of year associated with death. The pagan Celts believed that on that night, the boundary between the worlds of the living and dead blurred, and the ghosts of the dead returned to the earth. It was a night for preternatural communication with the dead, various forms of divination and prophecy, and sexual rituals.

By the 9th century, the influence of the Catholic Church entered into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV had already designated November 1 All Saints’ Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. Later, the Church would make November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead. The eve of All Saints’, and All Souls were celebrated with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils.

This was the wise way the missionary Church acted in face of this pagan feast that it transformed. It ordered the customs and habits that existed among a people to the Catholic Religion.

The lighting of candles on All Souls Day is taught by the Roman Catholic Church, but there are no solid biblical foundation of this teaching. As mentioned above, the ‘Feast of All Souls’ has pagan origins. This is one of the reasons that other followers of Christ are no longer celebrating this tradition.

The real reason people light candles for the dead during ‘All Souls Day’ or “Feast of All Souls” is because the souls are thought to be truly in the darkness. Hoping that through the lighting of candles,  the dead souls may find the light and continue their journey to the afterlife. There are quite a few variations in these practices within the Philippines from the traditional Roman Catholic observance, some of which can be attributed to the animist past of the archipelago before Spanish occupation, where ancestor worship was already widely practiced.

The offering of food during All Souls Day can also be closely tied to the animist belief that souls require food for their journey. “Some datus,” reports Miguel de Loarca(1572), “load a ship with more than 60 slaves, fill it up with food and drink and place the dead on board, and the entire vessel, including the live slaves, are buried in the earth”.  Food has always played an important role in folk beliefs, especially when attracting the “invisibles”, whether it is a soul that has strayed, or offering a feast to a spirit in exchange for communication or passage.  ‘Educated’ urbanites have varied attitudes towards the ways of their ancestors. The Christian who takes their faith seriously fears, distrusts, and condemns these beliefs and practices as works of the Devil. Thus some Protestant churches forbid their members from offering food to their deceased on the grounds of idolatry. Animist offerings involving food are still being made to ancestral spirits in Ilocos and the uplands of Cavite.

Here are a few beliefs, practices and superstitions that were documented by Francisco Demetrio in The Encyclopedia of Philippine Folk Beliefs and Practices, as well as a few from Myths & Symbols, Philippines in more modern times:

All Souls Day Superstitions

353. Rain During All Souls Day Are Tears Of The Dead.
When it rains on All Souls Day, old folks say the rain drops are tears of the dead. It usually rains on All Saints Day, and people believe that the souls are crying.

3426. Taking Things To Cemetery On All Souls’ Day.
We bring something with us to the cemetery on All Soul’s Day as one of our customs inherited from our parents. Mailag,
Valencia, Bukidnon, 1967

I. The Souls of the Dead Visit Their Relatives.
Below is a listing o f the folk beliefs in this regard:
1. They spread the stairs with ashes on the 3rd or 7th day of the Novena. Also on All Souls Day and after the burial you can see the footsteps of the souls, (Bukidnon, 1967).
(Myths and Symbols, Philippines)

The observance for planting on the feasts of All Saints and All Souls prescribe that the planter:
(a) take 3 strands of hair; 9 pieces o  small hot pepper; and 9 pieces o f shells (kinhason nga gitawag tapoktapok);
(b) bury these things together with the roots or tubbers that he may wish to plant (but one should plant in only 3 holes and no more);
(c) say the following prayer as he digs: Maghimaya ka Maria, napuno ka sa grasya;
(d) and bury in each of the 3 holes one strand of hair, together with 3 pieces of red hot pepper or sili, and 3 pieces of sea shells.

The panglihi here seems to be a complex of both negative and positive elements: negative – do not plant in more than 3 holes, do not use more than 3 strands, or 9 pieces of sili or 9 pieces of_ tapoktapok; positive – secure hair, sili, tapoktapok and bury these while repeating a prayer at every plant-hole and cover the hole with soil only after the prayer. (Myths and Symbols, Philippines)

All Saint’s Day Practices

4458. Celebrations Of All Saint’s Day And All Souls’ Day.
“On All Saint’s Day and All Souls’ Day which fall on November first and second, respectively, people from all walks of life pay homage to their departed ones. They burn tapers over the graves and also light bulbs in the case of urban cemeteries. Fresh flowers, as well as ready-made wreaths, are laid on the grave mounds or tombs amidst the lighted candles or bulbs of varying sizes. Before the tombs the relatives kneel down to say the usual prayers for the dead.”

4459. Relatives Bring Food To The Cemetery.
On November 2 (All Souls’ Day) some barrio folks bring with them various food and delicacies to the cemetery. They place these over the graves of their dead ones. Some naughty boys make a mockery of this practice by stealing this food although in most instances it is not eaten.

4460. Young Men Go From House To House To Serenade.
After the prayers for the dead on All Saint’s Day, everyone takes turns at the table to eat a hearty supper. Story-telling and merry-making follow until late into the night. Some young boys go from house to house to serenade and take part in the kalag-kalag (from the root word kalag meaning soul). No matter how poor the family is, there is always a preparation for this evening. In some parts of Bohol, some naughty boys place some impediments or barriers on the road or trails to delay travelers. Because of this, it is unwise to travel on this night.

4461. Bohol Celebration Of All Saint’s Day.
The celebration is characterized by solemn prayers at home and at the cemetery. Some people show grief while others celebrate as if it is a holiday, with feasting and merry-making. Before the day comes, nine nights of prayers are held, terminating on the evening of November first when the kalagkalag takes place. Before the altar a table is set, laden with various food and delicacies that the departed soul liked best when still alive. All those in the house join the prayers which usually begin at eight o’clock, since it is believed that this is the time when souls in purgatory are released to visit their respective homes. The prayers are unusually long. Aside from the prayers for the novena proper, all the mysteries of the rosary: joyful, sorrowful, and glorious, are said. The names of the departed kindred, friends and neighbors are mentioned.

4462. On All Saints Day Souls Of Dead Also Eat.
On All Saint’s Day the old folks believe that the souls of the dead also eat. This is why the Chinese take food for the souls of their dead relatives inside the cemetery.

4463. Souls Partake Of Food During The Prayer.
It is believed that during the prayers for the dead on All Saints’ Day, the souls take their fill of the food set for them. After the prayers it is not unusual to see curious children examine the served food to see if portions have been eaten.

 

All Souls’ Day

4467. On All Souls’ Day Food Offered To The Dead On The Altar; Souls Partake Of Food And Join Prayers.
On All Souls’ day, some people offer food at the altar because they believe that the souls would partake of them. (Sa panahon usab sa adlaiv sa mga minatay ang uban maghalad ng pagkaon sa altar kay mokaon kuno ang kalag ng kan-on.) Davao Oriental 1967

On All Souls’ Day, food must be offered at the altar because the dead would return and join the prayers. (Inig-abut sa adlaw sa mga minatay maghalad ug mga pagkaon sa altar ug mangadye kay manguli ang mga kalag ug mosabat sa pangadye.) Davao Oriental 1967

On All Souls’ Day, we must prepare food and place them at the altar because the souls will return to partake of the food. (Sa adlaw sa mga minatay maghikay kita ug ang altar butangan sa mga pagkaon kay ang kalag mobalikaron mokaon.) Davao Oriental 1967

4468. Food is. Offered At Altar And On Graves.
On All Souls’ Day people place a pot of food at the tomb or at the altar of their house because they believe that the soul will come. Cagayan de Oro City, 1967,

On All Souls’ Day, food is placed at the altar and even on the graves because it is believed that the dead would return to partake of the offerings. (Sa adlaiv sa mga minatay butangan ug mga kalan-on ang mga altar hangtud gani ang lubong kay kuno mobalik ang kalag ug mokaon usab sa atong halad.) Davao Oriental 1967

Offering something to eat at the altar or on the grave is practiced during All Souls’ Day. Libertad, Misamis Oriental, 1967,

4469. All Souls’ Day Unsalted Food Offered And Removed At 8:00 A.M.
Every All Souls’ Day, almost all the families in our barrio offer food at the altar and this food is not salted. At 8:00 in the morning they get their offerings and eat them. (Kada adlaw sa mga kalag (Nov. 2) ang hapit tanang pamilya sa among balangay maghalad sa altar ug mga pagkaon nga dili asinan. Pagka-alas otso sa adlaw ilahg kuhaon ang pagkaon ug sila ang mokaon.) Cagayan de Oro City, 1967

4470. Food Is Placed At The Altar At 8:00 P.M.
On All Souls Day, people prepare food and offer it at the altar, especially at 8:00 P.M., because during this time all the souls will visit and eat the food. Kibawe,
Bukidnon, 1967

4471. Food Placed On The Grave On All Souls’ Day.
On All Souls’ Day bring food with you to the cemetery and place it on top of the grave of your friend or relative because he is hungry. Kibawe, Bukidnon, 1967

On All Souls’ Day they place food on the grave because they believe that the soul will rise and eat the food. Malaybalay,Bukidnon, 1967

On All Souls’ Day, they offer food to their dead ones at the tomb, because they believe that their dead will rise and eat the food that they offer. Valencia, Bukidnon,1967

4472. Serving Food To Visitors Means Serving Food To Souls Of Dead.
On All Souls’ Day serve food to visitors because this is just like serving the souls of the dead. Cagayan de Oro City, 1967

4473. All Souls’ Day Palind* Made Outside Cemetery.
On All Souls’ Day palina is made outside the cemetery, and the person who has entered the cemetery stands over it to drive away evil sickness. Cagayan de Oro City, 1967

4474. On All Souls’ Day, Souls Eat The Offered Food.
On All Souls’ Day, prepare food and leave it on the dining table so that the souls will come and eat it. Cagayan de Oro City, 1967

Calag-calag or stealing is practised during the night o f All Souls Day. (Myths and Symbols, Philippines)

Taitih

4475. Taitih, Muslim festival For The Dead
“The whole month of Shaaban (in the Muslim calendar) is also known as Taitih or All Saints’ Day”. On any day of this month, it is optional for all Tausug to visit and clean the graves of their dead loved ones and to offer prayer for the eternal repose of their souls.

All Saints Day Legend

I Saw a Duende
(Aklan)

On November 1, 1968, feast of departed souls, my elder sister, Claire Zarate-Manalo and I went to the Kalibo Parish Church at about nine-thirty in the morning. When we went towards the altar to receive communion, I knelt at the extreme left, side by side with my elder sister who was gazing at the altar. At once, as I knelt, I saw a small man sitting at the side of the altar. The size of the man was about that of a five-month-old baby, only that he was thin. He was one and a half feet tall. He was dark-complexioned and looked as if he was between eighty to eighty-five years of age and toothless. His dress was entirely black like a pajama, with long pants, and long sleeves. He had a black hat like that of a dwarf and his shoes were like his black hat. I stared at the man seriously because he was the first smallest old man I had ever seen. It occurred to me that this might be what we call dwarf. That is why I stared at him long enough. I looked at my elder sister to see if she was also looking at the man, but she was not: she seemed serious, and seemed to have seen nothing unusual. I looked at other people beside us and they were not looking at the man either. It occurred to me that they might have been used to that man there. When we got home, I asked my elder sister if she saw the dwarf, but she answered that she had not seen anything. My hair stood on end from the answer she gave me. (Source: Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends)

SOURCES: 
Encyclopedia of Philippine Folk Beliefs Vol. 1 – Francisco Demetrio, 1991, Xavier University Press
Myths & Symbols, Philippines – Francisco Demetrio, 1990, National Book Store
The Soul Book: Introduction to Philippine Pagan Religion – 1991, GCF Books

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