Religious Celebrations

Catholic traditions and patron saint fiestas that unite communities across the province

10 Major Celebrations

Religious Celebrations

Catholic traditions that unite all communities

Holy Week

March/April

Processions, Way of the Cross (Via Crucis), Passion representations.

Activities

Processions
Via Crucis
Passion representations
National

Flores de Mayo

May

Floral offerings to the Virgin Mary. Traditional Filipino-Catholic celebration.

Activities

Floral offerings
Marian processions
National

All Saints' Day / All Souls' Day

November 1-2

Cemetery visits to honor the dead.

Activities

Cemetery visits
Floral offerings
Family reunions
National

Simbang Gabi (Dawn Masses)

December 16-24

Nine-day novena of pre-Christmas dawn masses. Unique Filipino Catholic tradition.

Activities

Dawn masses
Processions
Sale of bibingka and puto bumbong
National

Christmas & New Year

December 25 - January 1

Christmas and New Year family celebrations with traditional midnight feasts (Noche Buena, Media Noche).

Activities

Midnight masses
Family reunions
Noche Buena
Media Noche
National

Eid al-Fitr

Variable (Lunar calendar)

Celebration marking the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Major holiday for Muslim communities.

Activities

Communal prayers (Salat al-Eid)
Charity (Zakat al-Fitr)
Feasting
Family gatherings
New clothes
National

Eid al-Adha

Variable (Lunar calendar)

Festival of Sacrifice, commemorating Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son. Major pilgrimage season in Mecca.

Activities

Animal sacrifice (Qurban)
Communal prayers
Distribution of meat to the poor
Family feasts
National

Ramadan

Variable (Lunar calendar - 9th month)

Holy month of fasting from dawn to sunset. Month of increased prayer, charity, and Quran recitation.

Activities

Daily fasting
Tarawih prayers
Quran recitation
Iftar (breaking fast)
Suhoor (pre-dawn meal)
National

Mawlid al-Nabi

Variable (Lunar calendar - 12th Rabi' al-awwal)

Birthday of Prophet Muhammad. Celebrated with processions, prayers, and community gatherings.

Activities

Religious lectures
Processions
Charity
Poetry recitations
Community meals
National

Lailat al-Qadr

Variable (Last 10 nights of Ramadan)

Night of Power, when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Muhammad. Night of intensive prayer.

Activities

All-night prayers
Quran recitation
Seeking forgiveness
Charity
National