Holy Week is observed by thousands of devote Filipinos starting this Sunday

[ASEAN NOW News]

The week is composed of Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday, and Easter Sunday.

 

Filipinos in the Philippines go to church on Palm Sunday to attend Mass and have their woven palm fronds (palaspas) blessed by the priest.

 

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The ritual of waving palm leaves as the priest approaches the church is a reenactment of Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem.

 

Holy Week (April 10th-16th 2022) or commonly referred to as Semana Santa—which is a week of solemn contemplation on the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—is being observed in the Philippines every year.

 

In fact, it is as special as any of the regular holiday seasons, especially for devout Catholics.

 

Lots of people celebrate Holy Week by attending Christian and Catholic Easter week services.

 

Some Christian cultures have different traditions that commemorate the week.

 

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For example, there are special church services, processions, or re-enactments of Jesus' life and crucifixion.

Palm Sunday

 

In the Lenten season, Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday (April 10th), also known as Passion Sunday.

 

 

This Sunday observes Jesus's triumphant and joyful entrance into Jerusalem, marked by jubilant crowds waving palm branches, which symbolize victory over sin, peace, and eternal life.

 

In Christianity, Holy Wednesday commemorates the Bargain of Judas by a clandestine spy among the disciples.

 

It is also called Spy Wednesday, or Good Wednesday (in Western Christianity), and Great and Holy Wednesday (in Eastern Christianity).

 

They make an additional sacrifice by fasting and abstaining from meat on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday in addition to Good Friday.

 

Many will also not watch TV from sundown on Holy Thursday until Easter morning.

In the Philippines, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are regular national holidays. 

 

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