Of Feasts And Festivals

For Filipino Catholics, special occasions abound throughout the year!

Filipinos love to throw a good party, and whether it’s Christmas, Easter, or Mama Mary’s birthday, we always make it a point to commemorate the occasion. The good news for us fun-loving Pinoys is that we only have to check a Catholic calendar to know that there’s always a feast day to celebrate! But while some feasts involve grand processions, others make do with special but simple prayers. As such, you might not be surprised to know that not all feast days carry the same significance.

What makes them different?

Feast days fall under three levels: solemnities, feasts, and memorials. Solemnities are considered the most important as these celebrate events in the lives of Jesus, Mary, and those close to them like St. Peter or St. Joseph. Then come feasts or feast days, which highlight events in Christ’s life. The days on the third level are referred to as memorials, and they are a common way of honoring saints.

JUST FOR YOU!