In this Lenten Season, I am far from my family. In my solitude I look back how it was with them. I even smile on thoughts when I never stopped asking my mother or father things about this season. I guess I was too small to comprehend the things that were happening around me back then. In this time of the year, I can't forget all the beliefs, stories, prayers, love, and unity of the people. All of these I experienced until now but may vary among us whether by intensity, by faith, by belief, or by practice. But every time, I attend processions like that of the Way of the Cross and the Santo Entero; everything is nostalgic. Memories keep on coming back. I miss home and I miss my family.
In this year's Lenten Season, I recalled some important beliefs and practices that I grew up with back from my hometown. And I guess, even here in Negros, they also practice what we do. When I was little I sometimes complain or asked my mother why can't I take a bath on Good Friday and that I have to wait for Easter Sunday to do it. She always answer me because Jesus died and that when somebody dies close to the family it is already a practice not to do the regular routine of taking a bath, combing your hair, cutting your nails, sleeping, and even sweeping the floor. We do this every time we are in a wake of somebody. I really don't know the real reason up to now but I still do it. Some would actually tell me that the reason of not doing these things is bad luck. The great catch of doing or following these beliefs just came to me this day. It is because Jesus is part of our family or in our family. So, we also do same practices during wakes of family and friends who passed away. Among the practices I experienced back then, the not taking a bathe is the hardest of them all, especially this time. The temperature is too high. Many people can't bear the heat by not taking a bath. Some would justify it by taking a bath so early in the morning of Good Friday, when the sun is still on its way up. Well, I can say that this climate change can really change even some of people's practices.
Other practices that I remember are the not wearing of red clothes and not frying or grilling any food. I am not so sure about the reason for not wearing red clothes and I don't even know why it is forbidden to do some frying and grilling. If my memory serves me right, wearing of red clothes is forbidden because it’s a form of mockery to the death of Christ. So, instead of wearing something red, wear something purple instead. As to the frying and grilling I still don't know the reason up to now. When I went to church this afternoon to attend the mass for the Seven Last Word of Jesus and for the procession of Santo Entero I saw a lot of people wearing red clothes. I guess they don't practice it anymore or they just don't know because they were not told or did not see it being practiced. As to the frying and the grilling of food, it is still a mystery to me and a lot are doing it even if it is Lenten Season here in Dumaguete. I saw people buying fried fish nuggets at the park this afternoon while waiting for the procession and worst I even bought and ate some as well. Back home, we eat rice porridge or champorado, rice cakes, and any of those kakanin that are not fried. If my mother knew, she will surely scold me for that.
The serious practices among all are the fasting and refraining from eating the usual food that we love to eat like meat. After Ash Wednesday, people refrain from eating meat and will stick to fish and vegetables. Some will actually do the strict fasting from Good Friday until the morning of Easter Sunday. This is because the body of Jesus lay in his tomb for three days before he rose again. I rarely see people do the strict fasting if there is somebody doing this, maybe because he/she is a devotee. I never completed the three day fasting myself every Lent. The great catch for this is the essence of sacrifice. Jesus made it to the cross while He was whipped, wounded, and bruised as part of the sacrifice for us to be saved. The strict fasting as a form of sacrifice cannot find equity with the struggles of Jesus in saving us, yet most of us if not all always fail to do a little sacrifice like fasting and not eating meat.
The last one is not really a practice but an observation. Whenever Good Friday comes I am always fascinated of the fullness of the moon. I used to think before that the moon is full during Good Friday so that its light can serve as our guide against the element of evil in the dark while Jesus is dead. My mother will not permit us to go outside after six in the evening. She said creatures of the dark lurks and are just waiting for children for its victims. I was always terrified of the thought when I was a kid. Even in day time, we were not allowed to run or play outside for we might get bruised and wounded; that these will not heal fast until Easter Sunday when Jesus is alive again. After the procession this afternoon, I saw a lot of children running around and laughing. On my way home after the procession, I saw children staying at the boulevard. I guess they don't do it anymore. I found an interesting fact about full moon during Good Friday just today. Read the article. The great catch for this is that we need to stay together in our home during this season. We should pray together as a family as we remember how painful it was for Mary to see Her son hanging in the cross to save us and how much pain Jesus have to suffer just to save us.
These were the thoughts I had while I was attending the mass of the Seven Last Word of Jesus and while I was walking with the procession for Santo Entero. The Lent Season always brings back memories, beliefs, practices, traditions, and faith. Among these, I am glad that the faith that we celebrate never ceases, never gone but is always strengthened.Recollect, reflect, repent, and refrain from sin for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit asked only a week from us to dwell on them. Let us not fail HIM for HE never failed us.
P.S. I took some pictures during the mass and the procession. Just click on this link
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