The festivals in the Philippines are often religious and folk celebrations which provide the perfect occasion for feasting, fellowship and family reunions. They are the sticky, gooey stuff that hold together long distance relatives who come home for family reunions on such occasions.

Here are some of the most celebrated festivals and celebrations in the country.

Christian and Tribal Festivals

1. The fiestas reflect the diverse cultural heritage and provide amazing opportunities for visitors to experience the warmth, hospitality and vibrant spirits of Filipinos. It is observed to honour the patron saints in every town and barangay in the country.

2.  The Black Nazarene is known to millions of Filipino devotees all over the country. Its popularity initially spring in Luzon but it gradually spread all over the country. Over 200 years, the statue of the Black Nazarene has been placed on a gilded carriage every 9th January and pulled through the streets of Quiapo by male devotees clad in maroon. People believe that anyone who touches the Nazarene is sometimes healed of their diseases.

3. The Festival de Sto. Niño or the Feast of the child Jesus is observed all over the country to honour the child Jesus. This is a month long festival which is consists of processions and performances. This is also the time to witness the Ati-atihan tribes contest in Visayan regions.

4. The semana santa or holy week is widely observed in the Philippines. The celebration depicts and dramatizes the Passion of Christ known as senaculos which are shown in every community particularly in Malabon (Manila), Cainta and Talim Island in Rizal and other places in Bulacan, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija. Catholic families read the verses which portray the last hours of Christ on earth –the last supper to his incarnation.

5. The ati-atihan festival is held on the third weekend of January in Aklan, mainly in Kalibo and Ibajay to commemorate the purchase of the lowlands of Panay Islandon the 13th century by the Bornean datus from the aboriginal inhabitants who are called as the black Atis or Aetas. It is named as the wildest fiesta in the Philippines. Some writers dubbed it as the “Mother of All Philippine festivals”.

People of all religions and kinds observe this special day with processions, parades, street dancing, and merrymaking.

6. The sinulog festival is also held on the third weekend of January in Cebu City to honour the Santo Nino, the city’s patron saint. It is said that the image of the Holy Child was the baptismal gift of Magellan to Queen Juan, the wife of the reigning Raja Humabon, who was baptized as Carlos.

7. The dinagyang festival is a religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City which is held to honor the Santo Niño and to celebrate the arrival of the Malay settlers and the sell of Panay the Atis or Aetas.

8. The moriones festival is one of the most colorful festivals celebrated in the island of Marinduque. A morion which means "mask" or "visor" is a part of Roman armour which protects the face in battle during medieval period. The moriones is the name for masked and costumed penitents who march around the town for seven days searching for Longinus, a Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus while he was on the cross.

The week-long celebration starts on Holy Monday and ends on Easter Sunday after the pantomime reenactment of the story of Longinus.

9. The Flores de Mayo or the Flowers of May is held every May and is named as the "Queen of Filipino Festivals". This is a week-long street presentation in almost every town of the country to honor Queen Helen (Reyna Elena) and the child Constantine. This is usually attended by beautiful, young Filipinas and their handsome escorts under the adorned hand-carried bamboo arcs walking the rough, rugged streets of barrios or the plain, subtle roads of the large cities.

10. The Marian Festival is celebrated in different parts, different days of the year in the country to honour the Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ.

11. The Carabao festival honours the Carabaos (water buffalos) all over the country for the service and help it offered to the farmers. The celebration usually coincides with the feast of the San Isidro Labrador, the Patron Saint for great, bountiful harvest every 15th May.

12. The Peñafrancia festival is a fluvial celebration to honour the Virgin of Peñafrancia, a reflection of local faith and ritualistic specialty of the Bicol region.

13. The All Soul's Day is observed by most Catholic inhabitants to pray for the souls of their dead loved ones. This is also the time of the year when families clean and visit the tombs and catacombs, light the candles and say novenas or prayers for the dead. The prayers intercession helps the souls to enter heaven. It is believed that Virgin Mary lets down her rosary to lift the souls of those in purgatory and enjoy the glory in heaven with her and her Son on All Soul’s Day.

14. The paskuhan or Christmas is the biggest, grandiose festival in the Philippines which is practiced by every Filipinos with masses and gatherings. It is said that the Philippines has the longest Christmas celebration in the world which starts from the 16th December and ends on the 6th January.
Some Filipinos play Christmas songs as early as 1st of September because they believe that the month with ber at the end marks the dawn of Christmas.