The Philippines has one of the richest cultures in the world especially in terms of practices related to the predominant Catholic faith. One practice which Filipinos inherited from Spain and continue to celebrate up to the present time is that of celebrating fiestas to commemorate the feast days of patron saints. All fiestas will have some procession of sorts which would often include festive dancing known as the Karakol.

Karakol 1

What is the Karakol?

Karakol is a religious dance procession held at the eve of the feast day of the patron saint of a particular town. The provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan, and Rizal are known to practice the tradition of holding a Karakol as part of the fiesta celebration. While it is common to see this religious dancing done on land, there are also fluvial Karakols held in some places.

Karakol participants would usually include women categorized as seniors in our society as well as housewives, although there is nothing to stop younger women or career women from participating. There are different versions about the etymology of the word but the more popular one say that it was derived from the Spanish word “caracol” which means snail. Some attribute the connection to the slow pace of the procession because of the dancing or the shedding of the shell covering of the snail to reveal a different and much livelier side of the participants. The acknowledged purposes of the Karakol is thanksgiving for blessings received and request for continued provision of daily needs.

Karakol 2

Karakol as a Cultural Practice

Karakol is considered to be a cultural practice with a religious meaning. Its cultural and religious aspects cannot be separated since doing so will probably reduce it to a colorful street dance and nothing else. However, because of the often rigid preparation for it, many see it as a highlight of the fiesta instead of being just one part of the celebration. The Catholic Church repeatedly advises of the need to focus on the religious meaning of the practice.

Although saints are venerated especially during fiestas, the focus is geared towards asking for their intercession towards God. There is also attention given into trying to imitate the holy life that led them to sainthood. Most importantly, the faithful are reminded that cultural practices bearing religious significance should not overshadow the instituted sacraments.

Fiesta Band

My Say

I feel very fortunate to be staying in a place where my family gets to witness first hand religious and cultural practices such as the Karakol. Such events and activities are important components of not only my children’s cultural education but also for my husband’s and mine. Having lived the most of our lives in Manila where such practices are rarely seen or done still true to their original form, we can do with a lot of learning ourselves.