PAHIYAS FESTIVAL

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Pahiyas means “decor” and every May 15, the fronts of houses in Lucban, Philippines are are elaborately decorated with a brightly colored rice wafer, called kiping. Fruits, grain, vegetables, and woven palm hats are also used as decorations all in aid of is giving thanks to San Isidro Labrador for a good harvest. When the festival is over, the kiping are cooked and eaten as rice chips. – somewhereintheworldtoday.com

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The word pahiyas came from the words hiyas which means jewels and pahiyas, which means ‘a precious offering’. The festival is celebrated to show gratitude and a form of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. The locals show their gratitude by decorating their houses with harvests like fruits and vegetables and of local craftwork and handicraft. As a form of friendly competition, the houses vie for the honor of recognizing their creativity. The winning houses’ decorations are then given to the flock of people in the area as free treats.

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Every year, a procession of the image of San Isidro takes place during the festival and it is said that the houses he passes by will be especially favored in the coming year. The locals also display their harvests and crops to be blessed by the priest during the procession.

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One of the most traditional and most looked after decoration is the kiping. The kiping is a leaf-shaped wafer made of rice, colored and meticulously made by the locals. Kiping can be made into a chandelier like decoration called as an ‘aranya’ or as huge flowers which add charm to the houses. It can be cooked and eaten much to the delight of tourists and visitors of the festival. – choosephils.com

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