Holidays in the Philippines
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Holidays in the Philippines
| Date | English Name | Local Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day | Araw ng Bagong Taon | |
| — | Chinese New Year | Araw ng Bagong Taon ng mga Tsino | |
| February 25 | People Power Day | Edsa Revolution | |
| — | Maundy Thursday | Huwebes Santo | Thursday, date varies |
| — | Good Friday | Biyernes Santo | Friday, date varies |
| — | Easter Sunday | Linggo ng Pagkabuhay | Sunday, date varies |
| April 9 | Day of Valor (Bataan Day) | Araw ng Kagitingan | Bataan Death March |
| May 1 | Labor Day | Araw ng Manggagawa | |
| June 12 | Independence Day | Araw ng Kalayaan | Philippine Declaration of Independence |
| August 21 | Ninoy Aquino Day | Araw ni Ninoy | Benigno Aquino Jr. |
| — | National Heroes' Day | Araw ng mga Bayani | Last Sunday of August, date varies |
| November 1 | All Saints Day | Todos los Santos/Undas/Araw ng mga namayapa | |
| — | End of Ramadan | Based on Islamic calendar, date varies | |
| November 30 | Bonifacio Day | Araw ni Bonifacio | Andres Bonifacio |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Araw ng Pasko | |
| December 30 | Rizal Day | — | José Rizal |
| December 31 | New Year's Eve | Buena Noche |
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New Year's Day
New Year's Day, or Araw ng Bagong Taon is celebrated with the family in or outside the house. The year is greeted with a lavish feast, called buena noche, or feast of the good night. Traditionally, Filipinos, Chinese, and Spaniards stay at home, the latter serving parties lavishly, which almost always includes a lechon (suckling roasted pig). However, more and more of the younger generation and the recent immigrants such as Americans have popularized the celebration of the New Year in grand hotels, restaurants, in parks, and in streets. Children crack firecrackers such as watusi or Judas' belt, while adults spend the night recollecting the year, and in many families, involves a Bible reading.
Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year, celebrated by the nation's ethnic Chinese, is also recently declared as a working holiday. It is accompanied by the dragon dancing, giving of ang paos (red packets of money), and eating misua (wheat noodles) by the Chinese community.
People Power Revolution
On February 25, the PPR Day commemorates the People Power 1 (EDSA Revolution) when the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos was toppled. Celebrations are held in EDSA Shrine and in the White Plains Shrine, where the vast majority of the rallies and protests are held.
Holy Week
Holy Week, or Simana Santa in Filipino (from Spanish Semana Santa), is the only week where the whole country shuts down. It starts with Palm Sunday, Linggo ng Palaspas, then continues on until Maunday Thursday, Huwebes Santo, where the whole country shuts down. After Good Friday, Biyernes Santo does the whole country resume operations. The old Catholic belief that Christ is dead during Good Friday is still prevalent among the rural Filipinos, and so, journeys are not continued. They believe that bad spirits rome around, with no Christ no stop them. The Holy Week ends in the Easter Sunday, Linggo ng Pagkabuhay or Araw ng Paskwa, where shopping malls and Catholic Cathedrals held celebrations and easter egg hunts.