Sabado, Abril 16, 2011

Holy Week - April 17 - 23, 2011

     Holy Week is a significant religious festival in the Philippines. In this predominantly Roman Catholic country, Holy Week is known as both Semana Santa (the Spanish translation of the religious festival itself) or Mahal na Araw. There are many superstitions abound regarding Holy Week, such as that wounds inflicted or received on Good Friday take long to heal and that amulets acquired on the said day are especially powerful.
     Beginning Holy Wednesday, businesses in the Philippines either shut down operations until Black Saturday or have later opening and earlier closing times, while mostly local television or radio stations suspend programming or continue broadcasting with more solemn or religious content. An example is the airing of the Seven Last Words on Good Friday live from churches on various local channels and films about the life and death of Jesus. During the Easter Triduum, usually a public holiday, some television stations even interrupt broadcast altogether until Black Saturday in observance of this solemn occasion. In the Ilocos region, a common practice is the singing of a wailing song called the Leccio. It is done as a reflection of mourning the death of Christ. Many towns in Philippines usually have religious processions during Holy Week where traditions are part of the processions.

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