All Saints / Souls Day

By Phoebe Yu

It’s that time of the year again, when ghosts, witches and the undead roam the streets of Vancouver – it’s Halloween! Although the Halloween tradition has found its way to the Philippines, Filipinos have traditionally ignored October 31, and instead focused on the following days.

November 1 and 2, All Saints Day and All Souls Day, respectively, are big annual holidays. All Saints Day is a day to honour all the saints, and owes its roots to the Roman Catholic tradition. All Souls Day is a day to remember loved ones who have passed.

I remember celebrating both days in the Philippines a few years ago. My relatives and I had to fight through the crowds to get to my grandfather’s mausoleum. Every year, millions flock to the cemeteries to celebrate. Through a foreigner’s eyes, it probably sounds morbid to hold a family reunion in a cemetery, and to eat and sing amongst the tombstones and skeletons lying just below from where you’re sitting.

But it is a surprisingly festive and bittersweet experience. It’s the time when families gather together and remember those who have passed on. It’s even comforting to think that you can once again dine with your dearly departed.

And there are families who even camp out in the cemeteries. But in the black of night underneath the stars, when you’re lying beside your loved one’s grave, there’s probably no other time when you’d feel as connected to them as on that day. The only downside is probably sharing the cemetery grounds with a thousand other people.

True to Filipino custom, these days are celebrated with family, singing, eating and jostling with thousands of other revellers for space.

Do you celebrate All Saints / Souls Day in Canada? If so, how do you celebrate it? Or if not, why don’t you celebrate it? Share your stories in the comment section below, or comment on Facebook or Twitter.