For most Filipinos, the arrival of the “ber” months means the start of the holiday season. This part of the year is often associated with All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day, and Christmas. Still, another holiday often sparks curiosity among Filipinos due to its widespread global presence: Thanksgiving
What is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is an annual holiday that honors the harvest and blessings from the year that passed. In the US, the holiday is believed to have originated in 1621 when Plymouth pilgrims and the Native American tribe Wampanoag shared an Autumn Harvest Feast.
The events were initially observed separately by individual colonies and states until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it a national holiday. Thanksgiving is usually celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November with a sumptuous dinner consisting of roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, potatoes, pumpkin pie, eggnog, and apple cider.
The USA’s take on Thanksgiving is the most popular one. Still, other countries like Canada, Brazil, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Japan also have their version of the holiday.
Most Filipinos today have surely heard of this holiday; however, they have never really paid much attention to it, primarily because it’s not a recognized holiday in the country. But did you know that the Philippines also celebrated this famed holiday in the past?
The History of Thanksgiving in the Philippines
At first glance, the significance of Thanksgiving might not have much bearing on the Philippines, which is a Southeast Asian notion with a different set of beliefs and traditions. However, knowing the country’s history might give you a better understanding of how it came to be.
It all started in 1898 when Spain transferred control over the Philippines to the USA through the Treaty of Paris. This treaty saw the end of Spain’s 300-year rule over the archipelago and paved the way for Americans to instill their customs and practices in the Filipinos. One of the traditions they have imparted to the locals was the celebration of Thanksgiving. On November 24, 1899, a dinner for Company D of the 30th US Volunteers was held in Pasay. It is regarded as one of the very first Thanksgiving celebrations in the Philippines.
The Philippines continued to celebrate Thanksgiving on the same day as the United States until President Manuel L. Quezon made Proclamation No. 9 in 1935, designating November 28 as the Day of National Thanksgiving. However, when Japanese forces occupied the country in the 1940s, Americans and Filipinos were propelled to celebrate Thanksgiving secretly.
After the Japanese occupation ended in 1945, the tradition continued for years until the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos. In 1973, he moved the Thanksgiving holiday to September 21, coinciding with the Martial Law anniversary. The holiday was celebrated on this date until 1985. The holiday was thwarted after the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution ended Marcos’ administration.
Present-Day Thanksgiving Traditions in the Philippines
While it is no longer an officially recognized holiday, several Filipino families, particularly those with American familial ties, still choose to keep the tradition alive.
Establishments such as hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers also commemorate this holiday by offering Thanksgiving deals and events to their patrons. Some even offer Black Friday Sales – a popular promotion associated with Thanksgiving. In addition, American companies with branches in the Philippines also declare Thanksgiving as a holiday in their offices, making employees more aware of its existence and significance.
Thanksgiving, Faith, and Fiestas
Americans and other nations typically celebrate Thanksgiving on a specific day of the year. However, Thanksgiving, or “Pasasalamat,” in the Philippines is associated mainly with the country’s spiritual and religious practice.
The holiday is celebrated by praising the Lord for His blessings, regardless of the time of the year. Therefore, families and friends frequently observe Thanksgiving when there are important milestones like birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, recovery from sickness, homecoming, opening new businesses, and the like. And while American families often have roasted turkey on their Thanksgiving spread, Filipinos would opt to have the traditional Lechon or roasted pig as the highlight of their feast.
Thanksgiving is also done in the Philippines through fiestas and religious festivals celebrated in various places in the archipelago. These fiestas commemorate the town’s patron saints to thank them for their blessings and to pray for bountiful harvests.
Always Something to be Grateful For
The Philippines is a nation of people who give utmost importance to familial ties and are deeply rooted in their faith. For this reason alone, it’s not hard to see why Thanksgiving is celebrated in the country, regardless of date or holiday proclamations.
Families from all walks of life always find a reason to be grateful, and they mark valuable milestones with a Thanksgiving feast shared with their friends and loved ones.
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Featured Image: Tatler Asia
Related reading: 10 Beloved Filipino Christmas Traditions
