Feast of Our Lady of Candles in Jaro
written by ethermoon
on February 6th, 2009
, 2 comments
(0 votes)
The Lady of Candles Feast is quite a big event. Covering almost half of the jeepney routes which causes traffic, Candelaria Festival is considered by some as a holiday. Several schools, universities and establishments are closed during February 2nd because of the Feast.
Since Philippines is a Roman Catholic at large when it comes to religion count, all will go and follow every town’s fiesta. And this is what the Jaro Fiesta is called. In honor of the patron saint or something, Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria or Our Lady of Candles statue is being brought down from the Church, circumnavigate the plaza – where the public festival and amusement park is held – and held a celebration under the roofing tents of the Church and back.
Last February 2, I woke up around 9AM. I even checked the Lomography website for some updates not worrying about the traffic that would cost me. Two hours later, I find myself bumper-to-bumper in the middle of the road, since my friend called me to grab a lunch with them (FIESTA TIME!). I arrived not later than an hour in their house. We talked about a few things and ate.
Accordingly during fiesta scenes, you would see an ocean of people walking to and fro. No cars or other vehicles allowed in the perimeters of the Fiesta and the Public Plaza is encapsulated with different perks like “ukay-ukay” or RTW’s, fun rides, horror trains, some classic carousels, cotton candies, videokes to name a few.
Almost all of the household in Jaro are serving foods for all the people. Some say you can enter a house and pretend you know someone and they will give you something to eat.
The highlight of this event is on February 2 around 7PM. There’s a firework show and some events being held in the plaza’s auditorium.
Purely a rough thinking, the next day after is still a holiday to some - because most of them would get drunk and goes home early the next morning.
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