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The origin of most early festivals, locally known as "fiestas", are rooted in Christianity, dating back to the Spanish colonial period when the many communities (such as barrios and towns) of the predominantly Catholic Philippines almost always had a patron saint assigned to each of them. Originally encouraged by the Spanish to coincide with Christian holy days, early patronal festivals became vital instruments in spreading Christianity throughout the country.[1][2][3][4]
Festivals in the Philippines can be religious, cultural, or both. Several of these are held to honor the local Roman Catholic patron saint, to commemorate local history and culture, to promote the community's products, or to celebrate a bountiful harvest. They can be marked by Holy Masses, processions, parades, theatrical play and reenactments, religious or cultural rituals, trade fairs, exhibits, concerts, pageants and various games and contests. However, festivals in the country are not limited to Christian origins. Many festivals also focus on Islamic or indigenous concepts. There are more than 42,000 known major and minor festivals in the Philippines, the majority of which are in the barangay (village) level. Due to the thousands of town, city, provincial, national, and village fiestas in the country, the Philippines has traditionally been known as the Capital of the World's Festivities.[citation needed] The majority of festivals in the Philippines may have their own peryas (trade fairs with temporary amusement parks).
Some festivals, such as Holy Week and Christmas, are declared as public holidays, and thus, are observed and celebrated nationwide.
List
The partial calendar list contains several of the oldest and larger religious and/or cultural festivals in the country. Each town, city, and village has a dedicated fiesta, resulting in thousands held throughout the year; a few are national in character. Some fiestas may contain multiple/conflicting dates and/or place entries.
January
| Name | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binalbal Festival | 15[5] | Misamis Occidental | |
| Baggak Festival | [6] | Bauang, La Union | Celebrates the municipality's founding anniversary[6] |
| Kuraldal Festival | 6[7] | Sasmuan, Pampanga | Honours the town's patroness, Saint Lucy[7] |
| Hinugyaw Festival | 5-10[6] | Koronadal City | Celebrates the city's founding anniversary |
| Lingayen Gulf Landing Anniversary | 9 | Lingayen, Pangasinan | Commemorates the landing of General Douglas MacArthur and the Allied Forces in Luzon in 1945. |
| Feast of the Black Nazarene | 9 | Quiapo, Manila | Commemorates the translation of the image of the Black Nazarene to Quiapo Church in 1789. |
| Coconut Festival | 1st to 2nd week | San Pablo City, Laguna[8] | Festival lasts a week |
| Minasa Festival[9] | 2nd week | Bustos, Bulacan | |
| Batingaw Festival[10] | 13 | Cabuyao | |
| Halad Festival[11] | 3rd Sunday | Midsayap, Cotabato | Honours the Santo Niño |
| Feast of the Santo Niño | 3rd Sunday | National | Liturgical feast of the Santo Niño de Cebú according to the Philippine National Liturgical Calendar. |
| Sinulog Festival | 3rd Sunday | Cebu, Cebu City
(variants in Kabankalan City, Maasin City, Balingasag Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, and Southern Leyte throughout the year) |
Honours the Santo Niño de Cebú[6] |
| Silmugi Festival | 20[12] | Borbon, Cebu | Honours the town's patron, Saint Sebastian.[13] |
| Bayluhay Festival | 3rd week[14] | San Joaquin, Iloilo | Commemorates the landing of the ten Bornean datus and the historic barter of Panay Island[14] |
| Bambanti Festival | Third week of January | Isabela Province | Highlights the scarecrow (Ilocano: bambanti and celebrates the farmers' abundant harvest[15] |
| Ati-Atihan Festival | 15-21 | Kalibo, Aklan | Honours the Santo Niño,[16] and the legendary meeting of the island’a aboriginal peoples with settlers from Borneo |
| Batan Ati-Ati Malakara Festival | 3rd weekend | Batan, Aklan | |
| Sikhayan Festival | 18[17] | Santa Rosa City, Laguna | Honors the resilience and perseverance of the people of Santa Rosa[17] |
| Dugoy Festival | 18 | Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro | Celebrates unity in nature conservation in Sablayan[18] |
| Feast of San Sebastian Martir | 20 | Lumban, Laguna | Honours the town's patron, Saint Sebastian |
| Longganisa Festival[19] | 22 | Vigan City | Celebrates Vigan's accession to cityhood in 2001 |
| Bulak Festival | 22 | San Ildefonso, Bulacan | Bulak Festival is San Ildefonso's official town festival. Primarily, the festival is celebrated in honor of the town's patron, San Ildefonso but it also gives honor to the "kapok" plant, also known as "bulak" which played a very important part in the town's history. BULAK is actually San Ildefonso's old name when it was still just a barrio under the neighboring town of San Rafael. |
| Feast of San Ildefonso de Toledo | 22–24 | Tanay, Rizal | Honours the patron of Barangay San Ildefonso, Saint Ildefonsus. |
| Halamanan Festival | 23[20] | Guiguinto, Bulacan | Celebrated as a token of gratitude of town residents to Guiguinto's patron saint St. Ildephonsus (San Ildefonso),[20] and showcases the town's garden and landscape industry.[21] |
| Pabirik Festival[22] | January 23 to February 2 | Paracale, Camarines Norte | Celebrates the province's gold mining industry |
| Kasadyahan Festival | 4th Saturday | Iloilo City Proper | Showcases the best festivals of the different provinces and towns across the Western Visayas.
The date may change soon as it has been separated from the Dinagyang Festival since 2020[23] |
| Dinagyang Festival | 4th Sunday | Iloilo City | Honours the Santo Niño and the pact between the island's aboriginal peoples and migrant Bornean Datus |
| Ibajay Ati-Ati Municipal and Devotional Fiesta[24] | 4th Sunday | Ibajay, Aklan | Honours the Santo Niño |
| Kannawidan 'Ylocos' Festival[25] | January 27 to February 12 | Ilocos Sur | |
| Dinagsa Ati-Atihan Festival[26] | Last week | Cadiz | |
| Hirinugyaw-Suguidanonay Festival[27] | Last week | Calinog, Iloilo[8] | |
| Santo Niño de Malolos Festival | Last Sunday | Malolos City | Honours the Santo Niño de Malolos |
| Candle Festival[28] | January 31 to February 2 | Candelaria, Quezon | Liturgical Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary or Candlemas according to the General Roman Calendar |