And here I am once again, blogging on the way to the mountain city. Yep, I am going home for the weekend. Good thing that I bought my bus ticket last Monday when I arrived in the big metro. The queue at the ticket booth was so long, it already reached the main highway.
There was a time that I don’t go home during these times because of the heavy traffic jams on main thoroughfares as well as the hassle of lining up to buy a ticket or queueing for a chance ride. And besides, I used to enjoy the big metro during this time because there are no traffic jams and the city somewhat becomes a little bit quieter than normal.
It is a different case for me now, though. This year, I have to go home for two reasons:
1) My son is in the mountain city so I go home to spend time with him.
2) My Dad passed away two years ago and it was his death anniversary last 29th. And my family will be together this weekend to remember him.
I already asked my sister to buy me a ticket a few days ago for my trip back tp the big metro so that means that I will not have to go through the hassle of doing so on Sunday night. 🙂
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The last day of October has been known as Halloween. Nowadays, it has become the tradition to put on costumes and attend trick-or-treat parties. However, I wonder if people really know how Halloween started.
If I remember correctly, Halloween is known to be the day that witches go out and either treat people if they do what they have been asked to do or trick them is they refuse to do the witch’s bidding. There’s more to that actually but that is the only thing that I remember about Halloween.
My family doesn’t believe in Halloween. I don’t believe in it, too. But given how this day is being celebrated now (all treats and no tricks), I find it quite fun to participate in if you only look at it as it is: a costume party.
Methinks that Halloween has now become an excuse for people to don the costumes that they have wanted to wear but cannot wear on normal days, because let’s face it, who would wear a zombie costume or dress up as a princess on a regular coffee or grocery run? One would really look ridiculous, wouldn’t you agree? 😛
I love watching kids in their costumes during Halloween, though. They really look cute. 😀
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Here in the Philippines, November 1 is known as All Saints’ Day. As per day itself, it is the day to remember the saints. However, we remember our dearly departed ones on this day. And for the life of me, I don’t know why.
Now, November 2 is known as All Souls’ Day. This is supposed to be the day that we remember our dearly departed ones.
I learned this when I was still in grade school and the question still remains: why do we remember the dead on November 1 when it is a day of the Saints? I am really curious.
Here in the Philippines, this season is called Undas. Why is it called Undas? I really don’t know what Undas means. Is it a Filipino word? What does it actually mean?
*Note: These are honest questions that I have and should not be taken as an insult. I apologize if these questions are deemed insulting.
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So, like I said, we are on the road to the mountain city and so far, there is no heavy traffic along the expressway. Weeeee! It is a few minutes before 3AM on this side of the world. 3AM is known as the witching hour.
Whether I believe in Halloween or not, I guess it doesn’t hurt to say a little prayer for a safe journey.
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Happy Halloween! Enjoy the candies but don’t eat too much because if everybody loses their tooth/teeth, the tooth fairy might get bankrupt since there will be a LOT of people who will be placing the extracted teeth under their pillows. LOL!
And, be careful if you guys plan to go to the cemetery this weekend. Make sure that you secure all your things. Bring only the necessities and don’t stay under the sun for too long.
As for me, I think I’ll try to get some shut-eye while I still can. 🙂
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I also wonder why we remember the departed on All Saints’ Day. There is one town in our province that celebrates it on November 2. People there are wondering why everyone else is celebrating on the 1st. Lol!
Well, from what I believe, kasi daw departed loved ones are considered saints as they are now happy sa piling ni God. Or something to that effect. Angono, Rizal celebrates on Nov 2 though. 🙂
I didn’t actually know about the history of trick or treat. All I know about it is it’s the time of the year when people wear costumes. So thank you for sharing this, I learned something new. Haha! On the other hand, I could not agree more that babies in superhero costumes are the cutest!
My mom too doesn’t like Halloween because we’re serving devils daw. But I don’t feel that way because for me trick or treat is like costume party, I only attend school or office trick or treat. This year no trick or treat for us. Feeling ko kaya Nov. 1 para rest day na yung Nov. 2, yung iba kasi umuuwi pa province. 🙂
On second thought… Why wait for November to remember our departed loved ones right? We can visit anytime we want 🙂 We don’t really go to the cemetery on Nov. 1 and 2 and instead, just go whenever we can. Madami tao and masikip. lol! 🙂
I have no idea about the history of Trick or Treat.. Well, it wasn’t really that important to me until I had Audric. 🙂
I like this freeform style of writing! Yeah, I always wondered about the word, “Undas.” Unlike Cuaresma, which sounds Spanish, I’m not sure about the origin of that word. And Halloween nga pala also originated from the pagan festival, Samhain.
Thanks, Maan.. It has always been question I have.. didn’t know about Samhain.. thanks for that 🙂
I never knew of the word undas until I was soooo much older. Gosh! It’s good that there’s Nov 1 and 2 to celebrate because sometimes the places are different so you get 2 days to go to different cemeteries.
So how did you spent your weekend? I wish you had a wonderful time being with your family. For us, Undas is about family get-together because we meet other relatives and where we meet? at the cemetery 😀
we just had dinner at home with the fam on saturday night. then my mom and my aunt went to the cemetery last sunday to visit my grandfather. we didn’t go with them since there were a lot of people and my son is starting to have the cold again since the weather in baguio was quite unpredictable again. hope you had fun with your family’s mini-reunion 😀
I think it’s November 1 really more for convenience. That way, people can go to the cemeteries on the first day of the holiday and have the option to either stay overnight or use the next day to visit other cemeteries or take some much needed rest
I think celebration on Undas is being done on Nov 1 as it is always declared a holiday. But, it’s really everyday that we should remember our departed loved ones.
I lost my Dad a year ago and this is our second trip to the cemetery for Undas. We always make it a point to hear mass every All Saints’ and All Souls’ though.
No cemeteries for me!
same here… for this year anyway 🙂
You’re right! A lot of people nowadays don’t know the difference between the day we commemorate our departed loved ones from All saint’s day. UGH. Glad you pointed that out!
As far as I can remember, my family has always celebrated All Souls’ Day on the 2nd instead of the 1st. We find that there are less people, too 🙂 Thank you for sharing Halloween history. Up until recently, I haven’t really given Halloween much thought. But now that I have a son, makes me wonder how I feel about Trick or Treating. I’m just starting to make better health choices and I’m not quite sure if letting my child have all that candy and calling them “treats” will be sending him the right message about food. But I do love the costumes! And babies in costumes — too cute 🙂
i hope that, in the future, trick or treating will give out healthier treats apart from candies, wouldn’t you agree? 🙂
Agree! Let’s be the ones to start! Na-excite na tuloy ako for next Halloween! Ooh, what to make, what to give? 🙂
😀 maybe it will be a good suggestion for the next MBP’s halloween party, too. 😀 home-made cookies and treats would be a good start 😀