Ati Atihan Festival

The Ati-Atihan Festival is a vibrant, week-long cultural and religious celebration. Often hailed as the “Mother of All Philippine Festivals” and the “Filipino Mardi Gras,” it is a fervent tribute to the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus) combined with a historical homage to the indigenous Ati people. The name Ati-Atihan means “to be like Atis,” prompting participants to smear their faces with soot and don elaborate tribal costumes, embodying a unique blend of pagan and Christian tradition.

The festival’s most famous attractions revolve around its participatory intensity and unique visual display. The central draw is the continuous, ecstatic street dancing known as Sadsad, where millions of revelers and devotees move to the rhythmic drumbeats while joyfully chanting the rallying cry, “Hala Bira!” (Give it your all!). This high-energy atmosphere is visually defined by the blackened faces and elaborate tribal costumes of the participants, who are also there to honor the Santo Niño during the solemn high masses and religious processions, cementing the festival’s reputation as a profound spiritual and cultural showcase.