There are several Semana Santa or Holy Week practices in the Philippines. Luckily, I've been able to witness all of them at different points in my life (but there are some which I try to attend annually). If you haven't witnessed some of them yet, it's good to experience them at least once in your life and use the opportunity for some reflection and meditation.
Here are some activities you can participate in during Holy Week in the Philippines:
Filipinos bring palm fronds (palaspas) to mass which are blessed by the priest. The bringing and waving of palm leaves commemorates Jesus' entry to Jerusalem on a donkey and people welcomed him by laying down cloaks and small branches of trees. Blessed palm fronds (palaspas) are brought home and placed in windows and doors to ward off evil spirits and avert lightning.
Holy Wednesday
Semana Santa Procession. The procession commemorates the passion of Christ. Floats or carosa of statues (connected to Christ's passion) are paraded around the town. Here are some of the photos I took during last Holy Wednesday's procession in our hometown, Sta. Rita, Pampanga. For four generations, two floats have been under the care of my mom's family - that of the Mater Dolorosa and San Juan.
This is the beautiful church of Sta. Rita Cascia in the Philippines. St. Rita is the patroness of the Impossible.
People usually light candles and accompany their favorite saints (whom they usually ask favors from) during the procession.
This is the carosa of San Juan (St. John).
San Mateo (St. Matthew)
Jesus and Pontius Pilate
The crucified Jesus
+during+the+Holy+Week+procession.jpg)
Mater Dolorosa (Sorrowful Mother) - this is always the last float in the procession both on Holy Wednesday and Good Friday.
Here's my candle at the end of the procession. The distance of the procession isn't really far - maybe about 1.5 km but it can last up to 1 to 2 hours, depending on the number of participants. The crowd is thicker on Good Friday (usually double than Holy Wednesday's crowd).
Maundy Thursday
Mass of the Chrism. Held in Cathedrals every morning of Holy Thursday, the main celebrant of the Mass is the Archbishop concelebrated by the priests of his diocese. Apparently, Maundy Thursday was the day on which both the Mass and the priesthood were instituted so priests renew their vows, followed by the blessing of oils - Olive Oil - (oils used in baptism and for the anointing of the sick) and the consecration of the Chrism (oil used in the ordination of priests).
Washing of the Feet. This mass is held in the afternoon and it commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus washed the feet of the 12 disciples. So in the mass, there's a portion where the priest would wash, dry and kiss the feet of 12 individuals representing the 12 apostles.
Apparently, the washing of the feet is a hospitality custom since the ancient civilizations, a practice even mentioned in the Old Testament. A host usually provide water for guests for them to wash their feet and sometimes, offer their servants to do the washing for them. But in Jesus' case, he was the one who washed and not just for one but all twelve!
Visita Iglesia. This is the practice to visit seven Churches to pray the Stations of the Cross or pray before the Altar of Repose (the adorned altars). But contrary to popular belief, you can opt to visit just one church to pray or visit as many churches as you want, and you can do it any time of the year (not just during Holy Week).
Good Friday
Good Friday is a day of fasting (eating 1 full meal and 2 small meals) and abstinence (no meat).
Stations of the Cross. This is when the priest leads the faithful through the meditations on the stations of the Cross.
Good Friday liturgical service. Since there's no celebration of the holy mass between Maundy Thursday and the Easter Vigil (held on the evening of Black Saturday), only a liturgical service is held in the Church on Good Friday, usually at around 3 p.m.. The liturgical service consists of the liturgy of the word (readings), prayer petitions, Adoration of the Cross (where you can kiss and venerate the Cross) and Communion. There's no final blessing given by the priest like in a regular mass, so after the service, you could just depart in silence. You will also notice that bells aren't rung during this day and all the statues in the Church are usually covered with cloth; only the Cross is left uncovered. BTW, if you attend the service, please don't forget to bring your mass offering - this is the only time of the year when all collections are given for the care of the Holyland so you may want to give more this day.
Semana Santa Procession. This is usually held after the mass. It's similar to the Holy Wednesday procession except this time, more floats depicting the passion of Christ and also the float of the Santo Inchero or Santo Entierro (dead Body of Christ) are added. Here are some of the photos I took during last night's procession in Sta. Rita, Pampanga.
Jesus is stripped off his garments.
The scourging at the pillar.
The Crucified Jesus with Mama Mary and St. John, the beloved apostle, at the foot of the Cross.
The crucified Jesus with the 2 thieves. Such a moving image especially if we reflect on how Jesus forgave one of the thieves, the repentant sinner.
This is the float of the Santo Entierro (Santo Inchero).
Here's a closer shot of the Santo Entierro, the dead body of Jesus Christ. A lot of religious (mostly men) walk barefoot and help pull the float of the Santo Entierro throughout the procession as their way of penance.
As a kid, I remember, there was only a dozen of floats being paraded in my parents' hometown but in the last few years, I notice new floats are added every now and then. I estimate the total this year is close to 30 floats. Some say that in some places, there are as many as 80 floats or carosas. It's good to see that there's a growing interest and involvement among Filipinos in the procession including the youth. It's a tradition which hopefully we'll be able to preserve for a long time. :)
Easter Vigil. It's the first celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. There are 2 things that are special about this mass:
(1) an Easter fire is kindled in total darkness and the Paschal Candle is blessed. Then the light from the Paschal candle is passed on from one candle to another until the place is all lit up. You can bring a candle but if you forget to bring, the Church sometimes distributes to attendees.
Here are some photos I took during an Easter Vigil at the Sta. Clara Monastery in Betis, Pampanga.
The Easter Fire
The Paschal Candle is being lit from the Easter Fire.
The light from the Paschal candle is shared with everyone.
The Paschal candle (the big candle you see in the altar) is used throughout the year during baptisms and funerals as a reminder that Jesus is "light and life".
(2) Renewal of baptismal vows and blessing of water. Most of us were baptized when we were infants when we didn't have minds of our own nor speak up on what we believe in. Now that we can, we can heartily and more meaningfully proclaim our faith and renew our vows.
Easter Sunday
Salubong. Held during pre-dawn as early as 4am (or sometimes on Black Saturday late night), this commemorates the celebration of Jesus meeting Mama Mary after His Resurrection. Usually there's a short procession of the float of the Sorrowful Mother (Mater Dolorosa) covered with a veil, and the float of the Resurrected Christ, each of them in separate routes. At the end of the procession, they are brought together usually the the plaza fronting the Church. A little girl dressed in angel costume lifts the veil of the Sorrowful Mother to welcome the Resurrected Christ. Then happy music is played, often with a marching band, and fireworks are lit.
Easter Sunday
Salubong. Held during pre-dawn as early as 4am (or sometimes on Black Saturday late night), this commemorates the celebration of Jesus meeting Mama Mary after His Resurrection. Usually there's a short procession of the float of the Sorrowful Mother (Mater Dolorosa) covered with a veil, and the float of the Resurrected Christ, each of them in separate routes. At the end of the procession, they are brought together usually the the plaza fronting the Church. A little girl dressed in angel costume lifts the veil of the Sorrowful Mother to welcome the Resurrected Christ. Then happy music is played, often with a marching band, and fireworks are lit.
Burning of Judas. This usually happens on Sunday morning when an effigy (dummy) of Judas Escariot on a stake is burned or exploded using fireworks. If you're curious to know how the Judas figure looks like, the one that I saw looked like a scarecrow - it was made of straw and had some clothes on. And to share with you how I felt when I witnessed this was I actually felt bad seeing the dummy being burned. I know Judas betrayed Jesus but before he made that mistake, he must have done good things as a disciple. And who knows, maybe he even repented before he took his life.
The schedule for each of the activities vary from one church to another so to be sure, please do prior research before planning anything or ask the parish office where you intend to go to.
Each of us may have different intentions for attending or participating in Holy Week activities and services but whatever they are, for sure, you will find something that will move your spirit. :)
P.S. For Catholics, we're also invited to go to Confession. If you feel unworthy or ashamed to go to confession (like I do!), it's ok. They say that when we go to confession, it's not to emphasize how bad we are but how good and forgiving God is.
Each of us may have different intentions for attending or participating in Holy Week activities and services but whatever they are, for sure, you will find something that will move your spirit. :)
P.S. For Catholics, we're also invited to go to Confession. If you feel unworthy or ashamed to go to confession (like I do!), it's ok. They say that when we go to confession, it's not to emphasize how bad we are but how good and forgiving God is.