As we all know, the Philippines is a country where Eastern and Western cultures are integrated. Festivals are a microcosm of culture, and if you want to learn about the culture of the Philippines, start with the country's festivals.
The Philippines has one of the most festive countries in the world, with hundreds of holidays. For 365 days a year, Filipinos seem to spend more than half of their time celebrating the holidays. Either in the festive season, or in preparation for the festive season!
So, what are the important holidays in the Philippines? Effie Study Abroad has compiled the "2022 Philippine Festival List" for everyone, and the small partners who want to study in the Philippines must hurry up and collect Oh~
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List of Philippine festivals in 2022
Public holidays
Saturday, January 1, 2022 – New Year's Day
Saturday, April 9, 2022 – Warriors' Day
Thursday, April 14, 2022 – Maundy Day
Friday, April 15, 2022 – Good Friday
Sunday, May 1, 2022 – Labor Day
Sunday, June 12, 2022 – Independence Day/National Day
August 29, 2022, Sunday – National Heroes Day
Wednesday, November 30, 2022 – Bonifacio Day
Sunday, December 25, 2022 – Christmas Day
Friday, December 30, 2022 – Rizal Day
Special non-working holidays
Tuesday, February 1, 2022 – Lunar New Year
Friday, February 25, 2022 – Revolution Day
Black Saturday, April 16, 2022
Sunday, August 21, 2022 – Ninoy Aquino Day
Tuesday, November 1, 2022 – Halloween
Thursday, December 8, 2022 – The Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Special working public holidays
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 – All Souls' Day/Day of the Dead
Saturday, December 24, 2022 – Christmas Eve/Christmas Eve
Saturday, December 31, 2022 – New Year's Eve
A picture to take you to understand the 2022 Philippine Festival
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Filipino holiday customs
January 1, 2022
元旦（New Year's Day）
The Philippines, like much of the rest of the world, celebrates New Year's Day on January 1 every year. However, the festivities really start on New Year's Eve and culminate as the clock shifts from 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31 to midnight on Jan. 1.
Fireworks, food, greeting cards and friends are all part of the celebrations in the Philippines. Attending Midnight Mass on December 31 is the custom of devout Roman Catholics. Filipinos firmly believe that the sound of firecrackers and loud noises on this day can dispel evil spirits, and opening doors and windows can usher in good luck.
February 1, 2022
Chinese New Year
The Lunar New Year celebrations in the Philippines are just as exciting as China's. Since nearly 20% of Filipinos have Chinese ancestry, many Filipinos are looking forward to the Lunar New Year.
Lunar New Year
Chinese New Year
One of the most popular traditions between parents and children is to give away red packets. Inside these red packet bags is usually money, which the local Chinese call angpao (the Minnan people's name for the red packet bag). On this day, many Filipinos hang red lanterns in front of their homes and streets. In addition, they will watch a dragon and lion dance performance organized by the Chinese.
February 25, 2022
EDSA Revolution Anniversary
Revolution Day is held annually on February 25 in the Philippines. It commemorates a peaceful demonstration that took place in 1986 that led to the overthrow of President Ferdinand Marcos's corrupt rule.
April 9, 2022
Day of Valor
Warriors' Day is a public holiday in the Philippines on April 9 every year to commemorate the fall of the Bataan Peninsula during World War II. The long defense of the Bataan Peninsula blocked the advance of the Japanese army, allowing the Philippine and American troops to prepare for the ensuing battle, which eventually won the war against Japan. This period during the war is used to commemorate the unwavering courage and willingness of the Philippine and American armies to die.
April 14, 2022
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thornsday is the beginning of Easter celebrations in the Philippines and part of the larger Holy Week celebrations. According to the Bible, Jesus was crucified on Friday (Good Friday).
The Church prescribes that a maundy be held on that day to follow Jesus' humble and benevolent deeds to accomplish his mandated cause. Foot-washing is a religious ritual on which people often see the reenactment of the Communion and the washing of the feet of Jesus' disciples.
April 15, 2022
Good Friday
The Friday before Good Friday, Easter, is part of the Christian Easter Week (Holy Week). The theme of Holy Week is the New Testament—the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
April 16, 2022
Black Saturday
Black Saturday in the Philippines commemorates the day Jesus Christ lay in the grave after his death. It was the day after Friday and the day before Easter. It is also known as Easter Eve, Black Saturday.
May 1, 2022
Labor Day
International Labor Day, also known as "May Day International Labor Day" and "International Day of Demonstration", is labor day in most countries in the world.
May 3, 2022
Eidul Fitr
Eid al-Fitr is an important celebration for Filipino Muslims, marking the end of a month-long fast during Ramadan. On this day, fasting is forbidden because it is a day of celebration. Filipino Muslims are baptized before going to a community assembly(usually at a mosque) and offer special prayers to Allah.
June 12, 2022
Independence Day
Independence Day for the Philippines is held on June 12 every year to commemorate the Philippines' declaration of independence from Spanish colonial rule.
July 9, 2022
Eidul Adha
Eid al-Adha is a Muslim celebration to commemorate Abraham's willingness to obey Allah and to commemorate the end of the Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca).
August 21, 2022
Ninoy Aquino Day
Ninoy Aquino Day is held on August 21 every year in honor of Senator Aquino. Aquino and his wife, Corazon, are hailed as the leaders of modern Filipino democracy.
August 29, 2022
National Heroes Day
National Heroes Day is a public holiday in the Philippines to honor the country's national heroes. Filipinos celebrate National Heroes Day by taking part in local commemorations such as parades and laying wreaths at shrines.
November 1, 2022
All Saints' Day
Halloween is celebrated in the Philippines in a similar way to other former Spanish colonies such as Mexico. At the same time, the Philippines will hold a "Festival of the Dead" to commemorate the ancestors, cemeteries around the country will pour in to sweep the graves, and relatives and friends will sing and play cards quite lively. Filipino Chinese enter the country and follow the customs, treating this day as the Qingming Festival, the cemetery is even more lively, and the stalls are like markets.
November 30, 2022
Bonifacio Day
Born on November 30, 1863, Bonifacio was a Filipino revolutionary and military leader of Katipunan, considered the father of the Philippine revolution against Spanish colonization. Katipunan was a secret revolutionary group that aimed to overthrow Spanish colonial rule.
December 8, 2022
Immaculate Conception
Every year, December 8 is the Day of the Immaculate Conception in the Philippines, which is commemorated in many other predominantly Roman Catholic countries around the world. Pious people in the Philippines attend special Mass on this day to honor the Virgin Mary and believe that she was conceived without guilt.
December 25, 2022
Christmas Day
As the only Catholic country in Asia, the Philippines has the longest Christmas season in the world. From December 16, the nine-day "Simbang Gabi" ceremony began and did not end until the 24th. During the salutation, the Filipino church was packed with people humming beautiful hymns and overflowing with the joy of Jesus' coming.
December 30, 2022
Rizal Day
December 30 is Rizal Day, a national holiday in the Philippines. Rizal was the national hero, father of the nation, and poet of the Philippines' struggle for independence. In 1896, the Spaniards arrested and executed Rizal, and his heroic sacrifice made the Filipinos realize that they had no choice but to break away from Spain. Less than two years after Rizal's death, Spanish rule was overthrown.