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The Lenten season is taken seriously in the Philippines, particularly by the older generation. My mom gives up coffee, my dad doesn’t eat meat on Fridays, and us? Well we just go with the flow.
In the provinces, people would reenact the crucifixion of Jesus. They’d wear crowns made of thorns, long capes, be barefoot and walk along the highway while carrying crosses. Sometimes they’d whip themselves before the final walk as a sort of penitence. At the end of the walk, they’d get nailed to the crosses they bore.
I never quite understood the motivation for these practices but I could admire the persistence and fervor with which the faithful did them. I for one am not big on sacrifices.
But at least I understood the implications of the Lenten season, particularly the rituals of the final week, or the Holy Week as we call it here. I knew the story and the characters and the events that led to the crucifixion on Calvary, and the resurrection that came after.
So imagine my consternation when I asked my nephew if he knew the meaning of Easter. He had only just finished his catechism about 3 weeks ago, so I was thinking it would still be fresh for him, and he would have answers for me. He didn’t. So I found myself explaining Easter to him.
And that was that. Or so I thought.
I only fully realized how commercial Easter had become when the phone rang and I picked up to hear my niece on the line. She very cheerfully greeted me with a “Good Morning!” and get this – “Happy EASTER EGG!” Go figure.
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