Today, Catholics all over the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the Philippines, Easter Sunday is considered a triumphant day for Filipino Catholics as their savior, Jesus Christ has come back to life.
As part of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, Easter Sunday activities are held such as the “Sugat” a dramatization of Jesus Christ’s resurrection. The “Sugat” is a regional dialect spoken by people in Central Visayas provinces. In the Filipino language, the term Sugat means “Salubong.” While in English it means “welcome or meet” in reference to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
The Resurrection
For a very long time, Filipino Catholics welcome the resurrection of Jesus Christ with religious activities like the “Sugat”, the dramatization of the meeting between the resurrected Jesus Christ and His mother, Mary.
The dramatization involves two separate foot processions held at dawn within the vicinity of a church. In one procession, images of Risen Jesus Christ will board wooden carts adorned with flowers to be followed by parishioners with priests and nuns at the head of the processions, while the other procession will carry the image of Jesus Christ’s mother, Mary. In their meeting, a little girl dressed as an angel will lift the veil of Jesus’ mother, Mary.
To the Filipinos, the “Sugat” is not just an ordinary religious event. It symbolizes the coming back to life of their savior who sacrificed Himself for the repentance of humanity. Filipino Catholics treat it as of equal importance and grandeur with the Christmas celebration, the birth of Jesus of Christ.
In the Philippines, the “Sugat” may differ from church to church. Some parishes will hold the resurrection of Jesus at midnight while some parishes stage it at dawn. It is attended by thousands of parishioners who brave sleepiness and dawn breeze just to be able to witness the “ Sugat.”
Easter Eggs Hunt
Today, Catholics all over the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the Philippines, Easter Sunday is considered a triumphant day for Filipino Catholics as their savior, Jesus Christ has come back to life.
In the Philippines, another significant, yet fun activity held every Easter Sunday is the Easter Egg Hunt. This is one of the much-awaited Easter Sunday activities. But what do the eggs symbolize an Easter Egg Hunt? In pre-Christian beliefs, the eggs symbolize a new beginning and new life and so with the eggshell which symbolizes Jesus Christ’s tomb.
Also, Easter Sunday is the day for the Filipinos to celebrate the Risen Christ with lavish foods which Filipinos Catholics abstained during the Holy Week in adherence to religious beliefs.
To Filipinos, the Easter celebration is also a perfect opportunity to hone children’s craftsmanship and artistry in a fun way like the ones below:
● Easter Arts & Crafts
● Easter Treat or Make Confections
● ·Easter Egg Decoration
Procession during Resurrection
This is a religious foot procession done during the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the Philippines, during the resurrection, foot processions are held. There will be two processions are held during the resurrection: Images of resurrected Jesus Christ
Also, to symbolize the triumph of Jesus Christ, Judas Iscariot’s effigy will be burned during Jesus Christ’s resurrection celebrations.
To Filipino Catholics, Easter Sunday is not just an ordinary day. It is the triumphant day for Jesus Christ sacrificed