The feast of the Black Nazarene originated as way back as the 17th century. It is an annual religious march and a festival that is held in Manila, Philippines. The parade is held in Quiapo, which is an area in the capital. The parade is considered to be the largest parade in the land, the event is held on Good Friday and every 9th of January. The feast revolves around the procession at which hundreds of thousands of men carry a wooden black statue of Jesus of Nazarene. The image is life size and many devotees both young and old carry replicas of the same.
Families and both the young and the old gather along the street to catch a glimpse of the life sized figurine that is being carried by able-bodied men. Thousands of men yelling “Viva Señor” walk barefoot during the ceremony and it is believed that it is a sign of sacrifice and part of suffering of the Christ. Many make a jump to touch the statue and some are of the belief that if they manage to touch the statue it will give them good fortune, blessings and also protect them from harm. The ropes, the chariot and everything related to the festival are considered venerable and people throng to touch them.
At the Quipo church a mass is also held once the Back Nazarine enters the church. The feast is one of the most looked forward to by people of this region. There are many stalls selling souvenirs and figurines of Jesus at the venue and along the street. For anyone keen on experiencing this colorful festival firsthand and sharing the life and heritage of people of Philippines, can stay at a Manila hotel such as The Heritage Hotel Manila. It is one hotel in Manila, from which one can not only attend this religious feast but also explore the city’s other attractions and also be sure to have a wonderful stay.
