Categories: CebuDiscover the Philippines

Soli-Soli Festival – Showing Appreciation to the Soli-Soli Grass

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SOLI-SOLI FESTIVAL

Photo from: http://www.cebu-bluewaters.com/soli-soli-festival.html

The Soli-soli Festival in San Francisco, Camotes Island, Cebu every March 18 is a celebration of thanksgiving to St. Joseph, the town’s patron. Costumes and props are made of soli-soli grass that thrive in town.

Though Sinulog-inspired, the street dancing and rituals are based on storylines on the arrival of St. Joseph’s image in San Francisco, the town’s Christianization and the legend of Lake Danao.

It is believed that the Spaniards made a “mistake” when they brought St. Joseph’s image to San Francisco and that of St. Francis to the neighboring town of Poro.

There were efforts to correct this mistake, but the images reportedly would always find their way back to the churches where they were originally brought. Read More: http://www.cebu-tourism.techcellar.net/soli-soli-festival/

Photo from: http://gallery.sunstar.com.ph/Monthly/March-1/i-trvFzhx

Named after the Soli-Soli plant which abounds around Lake Danao, the freestyle street dancing competition uses soli-soli plant as its dominant material. Read More: http://www.juice.ph/outoftown/event/soli-soli-festival-at-san-francisco-camote-island

Photo from: http://www.cebu-bluewaters.com/soli-soli-festival.html

For the town of San Francisco in Camotes Island, they celebrate the Soli-Soli Festival on the third Sunday of March each year. The name of the festival comes from a plant found along the shores of Lake Danao, the soli-soli grass. In addition, the festival also celebrates the feast day of their patron saint, St. Joseph the Carpenter.

The festival is highlighted by dance competitions where participants are students from local schools. The rituals and dance choreography are based on a story about the arrival of the image of St. Joseph into the town and the Christianization of San Francisco. The dances also show the legend of Lake Danao. Read More: http://www.peanutbrowas.com/blog/giving-thanks-through-the-soli-soli-festival