Moriones Festival is a Magnificent Lenten Presentation

Photo from: https://calendarofeventsguide.com/moriones-festival-2016-schedule-of-events/

The Moriones Festival is a folk-religious event held annually during Holy Week on the island of Marinduque, considered the geographical heart of the Philippines.

The word “Morion” refers to the visor of the helmet that is associated with the armor of Roman soliders. The word “Moriones” refers to the local inhabitants who dress up in costumes and masks of Roman soldiers during Biblical times. These costumed locals are farmers and fishermen who engage in the street theater as a form of penitence.

For seven days, from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday, the masked and costumed Moriones march around town scaring children and making a ruckus in a reenactment of the search for Longinus, the Roman centurion who pierced the side of the crucified Christ. Read More: https://www.tagaloglang.com/moriones-festival-of-marinduque/

MORIONES FESTIVAL

Photo from: https://www.discoverphilippines.com/events/moriones-festival-2017

The Moriones is a lenten rites held on Holy Week on the island of Marinduque, Philippines. The “Moriones” are men and women in costumes and masks replicating the garb of biblical Roman soldiers as interpreted by local folks. The Moriones or Moryonan tradition has inspired the creation of other festivals in the Philippines where cultural practices or folk history is turned into street festivals.

It is a colorful festival celebrated on the island of Marinduque in the Philippines. The participants use morion masks to depict the Roman soldiers and Syrian mercenaries within the story of the Passion of the Christ. The mask was named after the 16th and 17th century Morion helmet. The Moriones refers to the masked and costumed penitents who march around the town for seven days searching for Longinus. Morions roam the streets in town from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday scaring the kids, or engaging in antics or surprises to draw attention.

This is a folk-religious festival that re-enacts the story of Saint Longinus, a Roman centurion who was blind in one eye. The festival is characterized by colorful Roman costumes, painted masks and helmets, and brightly colored tunics. The towns of Boac, Gasan, Santa Cruz, Buenavista and Mogpog in the island of Marinduque become one gigantic stage. The observances form part of the Lenten celebrations of Marinduque. One of the highlights of this festival is the Via Crucis. A re-enactment of the suffering of Christ on his way to the calvary. Men inflict suffering upon themselves by whipping their backs, carrying a wooden cross and sometimes even crucifixion. They see this act as their form of atonement for their sins. This weeklong celebration starts on Holy Monday and ends on Easter Sunday. Read More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moriones_Festival

Photo from: http://www.wowmarinduque.com/features/festivals/marinduques-pride-moriones-festival/

One of the oldest religious festivals in the Philippines. The Moriones Festival is a dedication to the half-blind Roman soldier, Longinus, who pierced Jesus in his side with a lance while he was on the cross. Legend has it that when some of the blood of Jesus fell into his eyes his sight returned. Upon experiencing this miracle, Longinus became convinced that Jesus was truly the son of God and converted to Christianity. The festival re-enacts the search for Longinus by centurions—adorned in colorful costumes—for this crime, with one member of the local community playing Longinus who is captured and recaptured several times over the course of the festival in a playful game of cat and mouse.

Every town in Marinduque has a version of the festival, but Boac, the capital of the province, is typically the place to stay. Read More: https://lovepilipinas.com/event/moriones-festival/

Photo from: https://www.rappler.com/nation/88859-moriones-festival-marinduque-photos