Ati-Atihan Festival is being celebrated every January in Kalibo, Aklan honoring Sto. Nino (Infant Jesus). The performers make their skin dark to which the "Ati-Atihan" literally means "be like Aetas" (Aetas are the early settlers not only in the Island of Kalibo but most of the habitable places in the Philippines, They are also called "Negritos") with indigenous costumes and "weapons"
The Festival culminates on the third Sunday of January with Tribal dancing and parade on the streets where everyone can join and dance to the beat of the drums. It is believe that the festival started when the Ati Tribe accept and let ten (10) Chieftains called Datus fleeing from Borneo to settle in their domain. Datu Puti one of the Chieftains gave a long gold necklace to the wife of the Ati's chieftain as a gift and at the same time paid the plains with a golden "salakot" (some kind of a hat) with other precious metals. A celebration followed.
After some time the Ati tribe faced famine which forced them to descend from the mountains to the plains where the Datus have settled who now farming the low lands. They seek help and the Chieftains obliged and give them food. As a sign of gratitude the Atis sang and danced for the Datus.
During the time of the Spanish, they infused a religious meaning to it and the dance holding the Sto. Nino was introduced.
Source: Ati-Atihan Festival
Post a Comment