|
Ati Atihan Festival in the Philippines
The Ati-Atihan Festival is a feast held annually in January in honor of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus), concluding on the third Sunday, in the island and town of Kalibo, Aklan in the Philippines.
The festival consists of tribal dance, music, accompanied by indigenous costumes and weapons, and parade along the street. Christians, and non-Christians observe this day with religious processions.
The Ati-Atihan-Festival is usually in January (the last 2/3 weeks) in the town of Kalibo in the province of Aklan on the island of Panay, Philippines. It's a 2 week fiesta but get there for the last 3 days. The dates of Ati Atihan can change depending on what town you are in. According to legend, a group of Malay Datus, fleeing from nearby Borneo, bought land from the local Panay people, the original inhabitants of Panay Island. The Malay Datus celebrated their purchase by holding a massive feast and painting themselves black to look like the islanders. The Philippine islands are very accessible and you can fly direct to the island of Panay in the Philipines.
A 13th century (c.1200 A.D.) event explains the origins of the festival. A group of 10 Malay chieftains called Datus, fleeing from the island of Borneo settled in the Philippines, and were granted settlement by the Ati people, the tribes of Panay Island. The Ati-Atihan was originally a pagan festival from this tribe practicing Animism, and their worshiping their anito god. Spanish missionaries gradually added a Christian meaning. Today, the Ati-Atihan is celebrated as a religious festival.
The people attend masses for the Santo Niño, and benefit dances sponsored by government organizations. The formal opening mass emphasizes the festival’s religious event. The procession begins with a rhythmic drumbeats, and dances parading along the street. The second day begins at dawn with a rosary procession, which ends with a community mass, and procession. The highlight of the festival occurs on the last day, when groups representing different tribes compete. The festival ends with a procession of priest carrying torches, and different kinds of images of the Santo Niño. The contest winners are announced at a masquerade ball which officially ends the festival.
|