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Filipino Families Keep Their Loved Ones Close on All Saints' Day
Families honored the dead with flowers, candles and prayers as Undas blended Catholic observance with older ancestor-veneration customs, scholars said.
- On Sunday, November 1, 2026, thousands of Filipinos flocked to cemeteries across Manila to observe All Saints' Day, a tradition known locally as Undas that honors the deceased.
- Undas blends Catholic observances with pre-colonial ancestor veneration, said Nestor Castro, an anthropology lecturer at the University of the Philippines Diliman. The tradition predates Spanish colonization.
- The tradition evolved after the Spanish arrived in 1565, introducing Catholic practices that share historical ties with Mexico through the centuries-old Manila-Acapulco galleon trade.
- Lorita Santos, who visited the graves of her father and three relatives, emphasized passing the tradition to children: "We pass this on to our children to make sure they are aware of the tradition."
- Similar customs honoring the dead with flowers and prayers are observed in countries like Bolivia, Poland, and Hungary, illustrating the broader global tradition of family-centered ancestor veneration.
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Filipino families keep their loved ones close on All Saints’ Day – WTOP News
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Her father may no longer be with her, but Lorita Santos keeps the memories they shared close to her heart. She was among thousands of Filipinos who flocked to cemeteries across Manila on Sunday to visit the graves of their loved ones, marking All Saints’ Day. For generations, the tradition known...
·Chevy Chase, United States
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Total News Sources24
Leaning Left9Leaning Right2Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution52% Center
Bias Distribution
- 52% of the sources are Center
52% Center
L 39%
C 52%
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