Celebrating All Souls’ Day - Ideas for Filipino Families

All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are an integral part of many a Filipino family’s annual calendars, particularly for the Catholics and Christians who make up approximately 85% of the population.

While All Saints’ Day is a special day to commemorate the saints in heaven, All Souls’ Day or Araw ng mga Patay is an occasion that is more “close to home.” On this day, Filipinos remember their dead loved ones through prayer and by offering flowers. It is also often an occasion for relatives to get together, thus it is a tradition that must be passed on to our children not only to teach the value of prayer but also to foster close family relations.

Here are some ideas to make your family’s commemoration of All Souls’ Day more meaningful:

1. Offer up prayers and masses.
This is probably something most of us are already doing. For Catholics, it is believed that the offering of masses and prayers are especially beneficial for the souls in purgatory i.e. they are offered to ease whatever suffering and pain they are in. When going to mass as a family, especially on All Souls’ Day, try to make it extra meaningful by preparing your kids beforehand i.e. explaining the rites to them; showing them who it is you’re offering Mass for; etc.

2. Offer flowers and light candles at the cemetery.
This is another common practice among Filipino families. This year though, try to get the kids more involved by having them help prepare flower wreaths or garlands, and choosing the candles that you will be lighting.

3. Revisit photos and videos of your deceased loved ones.
Instead of focusing on the sadness of their passing though, rejoice in the fact that they have returned “home” to heaven (or if you believe in purgatory, at least they’re halfway there!). Keeping them alive in your family’s memory is one of the best tributes you could offer them. This would be a wonderful time to speak of them to your kids with fondness and love.

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4. Make a family tree with your kids.
Indicate which family members have passed on (e.g. a certain Lolo or Tita so-and-so) and recall fond memories that you have had with each. If possible, show your children photos of each person. When you go to Mass (or another religious service) on All Souls’ Day, bring the family tree with you and offer up prayers for each deceased member.

5. Have a “letting go” ceremony.
This is especially ideal if an immediate family member has just recently passed away (e.g. earlier this year). Write little notes of remembrance for each deceased family member and attach them to balloons or doves for release after a simple prayer in their honor.

6. In contrast, have a simple celebration to commemorate LIFE.
If our deceased loved ones could speak to us from their graves, they would probably have a common message for us: “Celebrate life and make the most of the life that we’ve been given.” On All Souls’ Day, take time not only to pray for those who have died, but also to thank God for the lives we are living this very moment. Teaching our kids to be grateful for their blessings in life is important.

7. Map out your family’s “vision and mission” statement.
The sad reality is many people who have passed away may not have even been able to discover what it is they were “meant to do” on earth. Take the time this long weekend to do some soul-searching as individuals and as a family to seek out God’s plan for you.

However you choose to celebrate All Souls’ Day (and All Saints’ Day too), remember to focus on the fact that life on this earth is only temporary, and what is important is how we cultivate love, faith and hope – because when we do this in our own families, we end up making the world a better, brighter place for all.

Photo from sxc.hu

Sources:
http://www.camarinessur.gov.ph/sec/life/allsouls.php