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Ati-Atihan Festival is one of the
popular festivals celebrated in Philippines.
The festival is celebrated in the
honor of Santo Nino and takes place
in January every year. The main location
in Philippines where this festival
is celebrated with utmost enthusiasm
is in the little town of Kalibo. This
festival in Philippines is considered
to be the most important and mother
of all other Filipino festivals.
Celebrationsonnet presents the historical
significance of the festival which
relates the Ati people. The Ati people
had little resemblance with the tribal
people, the incident that relates
to the significance of the festival
dates back to the 13th Century. The
Ati people were the original residents
of the Panay Island gave lands to
the Borneo people of the Malay datus.
This type of contribution of the
Ati people made the Borneo to celebrate
the Ati-Atihan festival commemorating
to the kind contribution of the Ati
people. The Atians were black in their
complexions and so the Borneo people
painted their faces with soot. This
particular tradition is still maintained
in the present days. However the nature
of the festival has changed a lot,
in the recent times it has been camouflaged
with Catholic ceremonies, social activities,
native dramas and many more exciting
elements.
The festival begins with laudable
rituals, drum beats and exciting songs
and music. The second day of the festival
starts with the rosary parade and
then a community gathering is held.
The most exciting phase of the festival
is its last day when people of different
communities and tribes compete with
each other. People put on colorful
clothes and costumes and other colorful
accessories. The end note of the festival
is made with a huge long procession
and a grandeur feast. This grandeur
feast goes on through the whole night;
people get intoxicated with fun and
frolic. The merry makings connote
the end of the festival and it's a
wait for the next year. This particular
event helps the Filipino to get rid
of all their pains. The three days
festival rejoices the Filipino's mood
and makes them prepare for their tough
schedules following till the next
year comes.
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and ceremonies please log on to our
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