Paghugas is a funeral tradition where attendees wash their hands with warm water boiled with kabugao (pomelo) leaves after a burial. This ritual is done upon returning to the deceased’s house, believed to cleanse negative energy or spiritual residue. A family member prepares the leaves and sets up basins at the house entrance for handwashing. Traditionally, all mourners are expected to perform this act, and if the water becomes dirty, the last person uses the leaves to wipe their hands. The practice is widely observed in the community and has been passed down through generations. However, modernization and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic have led some to replace it with alcohol or sanitizers, posing a challenge to its continuity.
Domain:
Location/s:
Photo Credit/s:
Dumangas Tourism Office, 2022
Mappers:
Angela Docdocil, Mary Rose D. Fenita, Irene Deocos
Tags:
community ritual, COVID-19 Impact, Cultural Preservation, family preparation, Filipino funeral rites, funeral tradition, generational tradition, handwashing ritual, kabugao leaves, modernization challenges, mourning customs, negative energy removal, Paghugas, pomelo leaves, post-burial practice, ritual continuity, sanitizer replacement, spiritual cleansing, spiritual hygiene, warm water cleansing
Want to know more?
Inquire about this specific heritage by filling up the form below.
We will get back to you with an answer as soon as we can.
