JM - All Saint's Day: The Day to Remember
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By Teacher JM
The scorching heat. The crowded stations. The
unending, long queue for bus tickets. These are only a few of the many
struggles I endure every November in order to reach my cherished birthplace of
Cebu, which lies to the south. This is not unique to me; over thousands of
Cebuanos are going through the same thing. Here goes the big question: Why
willingly go through with the hustle and bustle?
All of this is done to commemorate All Saints Day, a
Christian holiday devoted to remembering the saints and showing reverence for
the deceased. This tradition shares some similarities with the Obon festival in
its focus on honoring the deceased.
During this day, we visit cemeteries to offer flowers
and candles. My family often offers food on the altar and says prayers for our
ancestors. Our forefathers are said to visit us in the guise of insects when we
are young. My younger sister once took care of a large moth, believing it to be
our great-grandmother.
In my opinion, this custom goes far beyond simply
marking a day of remembrance; it's about maintaining a close bond with our
loved ones - dead or alive.
