Holy Week Activities for Filipinos in Canada

According to the census conducted by Statistics Canada, around 925,490 people in Canada are of Filipino ethnic origin as of 2021. Data also showed that the Philippines continues to be Canada's second-largest source of immigrants after India. The majority of Filipinos live in Manitoba, Alberta, and Yukon.

The Philippines is a Christian country with Catholicism as the predominant religion. As of 2020, almost 80% of the population identified as Roman Catholic. Filipinos who migrate to Canada still practice Filipino traditions abroad to preserve their culture and identity.

One of the traditions Christian Filipinos practice is observing the Holy Week (also called Mahal na Araw or Semana Santa). This holiday is a time of religious reflection, commemorating the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you are curious about what activities Filipino communities in Canada do during the Holy Week, this is for you.

Holy Week Overview

This 2025, Holy Week will fall from April 13 (Palm Sunday) to April 20 (Easter Sunday). Here is a breakdown of the dates and their significance:

Apart from Catholics, other Christians also observe the Holy Week. For example, Iglesia ni Cristo (INC or Church of Christ) and Jehovah’s Witnesses also commemorate Jesus’ death. The INC calls this commemoration Banal na Hapunan (Holy Supper). Meanwhile, Jehovah’s Witnesses call it the Memorial of Jesus’ Death, which will be observed on April 12, 2025, worldwide.

Holy Week Traditions and Practices in the Philippines

Catholic Filipinos have numerous activities during the Holy Week. These include:

Pabasa

This is a traditional Filipino Catholic practice during Holy Week, during which people chant or sing the verses of the Pasyon, a 16th-century epic poem that narrates the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Visita Iglesia (Church Visit)

During Holy Week, some Filipinos who practice Catholicism go on church visits, going to at least seven to 14 churches to pray. This practice is often done on Holy Thursday, with the belief that it will enable them to meditate on Jesus’ journey from the Last Supper to his crucifixion.

Via Crucis (Way of the Cross)

This tradition commemorates Jesus’ passion and death on the cross. There are 14 stations, each depicting a focal moment in Jesus’ life before his death. In each station, there are pictures that devotees can meditate on before saying their prayers.

The 14 Stations are:

• Station 1: Jesus is condemned to death.
• Station 2: Jesus takes up his cross.
• Station 3: Jesus falls the first time.
• Station 4: Jesus meets his mother.
• Station 5: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry his cross.
• Station 6: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.
• Station 7: Jesus falls the second time.
• Station 8: Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem.
• Station 9: Jesus falls the third time.
• Station 10: Jesus is stripped of his garments.
• Station 11: Jesus is nailed to the cross.
• Station 12: Jesus dies on the cross.
• Station 13: Jesus is taken down from the cross.
• Station 14: Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Santo Entierro (The Burial of Jesus)

This is one of the highlights of Holy Week for Catholic Filipinos. It refers to the image of the dead Jesus Christ dressed in a garment made of the finest silk or softest velvet with ornate embellishments. The Procession of Santo Entierro is a religious ritual and an expression of communal faith.

Salubong (Easter Sunday)

In this Filipino Easter tradition, the Risen Jesus and his mother are reenacted meeting at pre-dawn to symbolize the triumph of life over death. Often, this is done around 3 or 4 a.m.

Celebrating Holy Week in Canada

The Filipino community in Canada celebrates many Filipino holidays and traditions, including Holy Week. This week, Filipino churches in major Canadian cities with a large Filipino population, such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary, observe Holy Week.

To learn more about the cultural events tied to Holy Week 2025 in Canada, you can check out Filipino organizations and communities in the country. These Filipino communities can inform you about specific Catholic shrines or Filipino community gatherings you can attend in commemoration of Christ’s Death.

Conclusion

Practicing traditions even outside of one’s home country is one of the best ways to preserve one's identity and culture. Christian Filipinos in Canada observe Holy Week in different ways to show their appreciation for the sacrifice Jesus and his father made on behalf of the entire human race.

Whatever your religion, may the Holy Week commemoration help you appreciate the life you enjoy now and the better life that awaits you in the future, thanks to Jesus’ death.

If you are a Filipino in Canada, RemitBee can help you with your money remittance service needs. Sign up now.