Day of the dead

 

 

Day of the dead: Skulls and bones of the unnamed dead gathered up in piles as part of grim All Souls’ Day tradition in Philippines All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day in the Philippines are the two most important days in the Filipino calender Millions will flock to graveyards to pay their respects to relatives and loved ones who have died Offices and schools close and the usually silent graveyards are transformed into parties with food and music A doll lies among human skulls and skeletons at this public cemetery in the Philippines which is preparing to mark the Day of the Dead. All Souls' Day in the Philippines, known as Araw ng mga Patay - and All Saints' Day are the two most important days in the Filipino calender. Millions will soon flock to graveyards around the country to pay their respects to departed relatives and loved ones over the festival. A doll lies amid human skulls and skeletons inside a common grave at a cemetery in Las Pinas, Metro Manila, on the eve of the All Saints' Day Families tend to light candles and clean crypts ahead of All Saints' Day celebrations on October 31. As the largest Catholic nation in Asia, this public holiday allows Filipinos to visit family crypts for overnight and weekend vigils. Offices and schools close and the usually silent graveyards are transformed into parties with food and music. More than one million people are buried in the North Manila Cemetery including former presidents, national artists and movie stars. There are at least 100 burials held here every week. According to a cemetery worker, the unclaimed skulls and skeletons are placed in a common grave after their 'lease' is finished to make way for more graves. Boys walk past unclaimed human skulls and skeletons inside a common grave at a cemetery in Las Pinas, Metro Manila Residents visit their departed loved ones at a common grave on the eve of the All Saints' Day, a Roman Catholic feast in the Philippines at a cemetery in Las Pinas, Metro Manila As the largest Catholic nation in Asia this public holiday allows Filipinos to visit the family cemeteries where they light candles Preparations: A man cleans the crypt of a departed relative at a public cemetery ahead of All Saints' Day in Manila, Philippines Young boys play basketball at a public cemetery which will be lit up with candles during All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day to pay respects to departed loved ones Filipino families can be seen living on top of graves at Manila's North Cemetery in the Philippines Millions of Filipinos will soon flock to cemeteries around the country to visit departed relatives and loved ones to mark All Saints Day and All Souls Day Children living in the area play tag on top of stacked tombs at a cemetery in Manila, Philippines before All Saints' Day A Filipino man sleeps on top of a grave at a public cemetery in Davao, Philippines. Soon millions of Filipinos will flock to cemeteries around the country A Filipino vendor sleeps beside a grave at a public cemetery in Davao, Philippines A Filipino man is seen cleaning the tomb of his departed loved one in a public cemetery in Davao, Philippines Children living in the area play games on top of graves in the Philippines before All Saints' Day A Filipino boy dressed as a vampire waits during a Halloween parade in Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines Families light candles and clean the crypts ahead of All Saints' Day celebrations on October 31 in Manila, Philippines A pair of children light candles at a public cemetery ahead of All Saints' Day in Manila, Philippines as the largest Catholic nation in Asia prepares for the public holiday Filipino girls living beside multi-layered tombs ride a bike at a public cemetery in Navotas, north of Manila, Philippines