Trivia - music or otherwise

Gerry,

You asked the question on the Grove Radio show the other night about Easter here in the Philippines.

Easter is huge here and Holy Week up to Easter Sunday is celebrated in different ways according to many traditions.

Here in the province where we live there are processions, fiesta style celebrations, church activities and other assorted events.

In the capital city Manila things are quite different and on a much larger scale.

There are massive processions involving huge gatherings of people.

However there are the more brutal style of activities.

For example people carry a cross and a lot of flagalations or whipping of the cross bearer happens. 

Others get nailed to a cross and allegedly these are people who consider they have sinned in some way by committing serious offences that went unpunished and in this way they are seeking redemption for their sinful acts.

In Manila millions of people follow an adorned truck carrying a  black Nazarine  statue which is considered most sacred and has allegedly miraculous healing powers. As it moves along at pace from one place to another millions follow it in a frenzy of chanting trying to touch the sacred statue. Most of these people will have been fasting since Good Friday. During this frenzied procession many die as a result of being stampeded on, from exhaustion, dehydration from the crazy heat and other things like heart attacks. Those that die believe their death to be worth it.

I have never attended nor will I ever attend such gatherings.

They are barbaric and crazy to me to say the least but are considered traditions here.

On a lighter note Easter eggs don't feature here. Easter Sunday is a big family day with hundreds of people gathering at each other's homes, beaches, parks etc...to share lots of food and drinks and party because The Lord has arisen.

Throughout the year many fiestas are held all over the Philippines commerating whatever Saint represents that region, city or town.

Indeed in May there are hundreds of fiestas all over Bohol our province and we have been invited by a dear friend to one near our home. These are really just parties where you bring food, a cake, drinks etc...to share with everyone else. 

Ours will happen on 3rd of May.

So there you have it Gerry. 

They have a saying here " it's more fun in the Philippines" 😂😂