What is Ati-Atihan Festival in Aklan?

The festival ends with a procession of thousands of people carrying different kinds of images of the Santo Niño. Other towns in Aklan that celebrate the Ati-Atihan Festival are Ibajay, Malinao, Makato, Batan, Altavas, Malay (Boracay Island).

How did the Ati-Atihan start?

Thus the first Ati-atihan started. Upon the colonization of the islands, the baptism of a huge number of the natives to Roman Catholicism was celebrated and the drums were sounded. Coinciding with the Ati-atihan of old, it became a combined celebration.

When is the next Ati-Atihan 2018?

The next Ati-Atihan will span from the 15th to the 21st of January 2018. Different parades are scheduled to take place every weekday afternoon, while the famous whole day street dancing begins on Friday. And every night, partying and snake-dancing await attendees at the Magsaysay Park.

What is the Kalibo Santo Niño Ati-Atihan Festival?

The Kalibo Santo Niño Ati-atihan Festival was named one of the 300 best festivals in the world for 2017 by two global digital festival discovery communities, the F300 and EverFest. Other travel web sites also named the Kalibo Ati-atihan as one of the greatest street parties in the world.

What is the origin of Ati Atihan?

The festival’s origins The festival’s name means “to be like the Ati’s” (also called Aetas) and today, two varying tales of the Ati-Atihan’s roots are known. When the Spaniards colonized the Philppines, the festival was given Catholic significance and it was turned into a feast to honor the Santo Niño (a statue of the Child Jesus).

Who are the ATIS in the Philippines?

The Atis, or Aetas as they are also commonly called, are characteristically darker-skinned and of small stature. They were the first settlers in many of what are now the Philippine islands. This included the island of Panay, where Kalibo is located.