Wattah Wattah Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nativity of Saint John the Baptist |
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|---|---|
| Official name | Wattah Wattah Festival |
| Also called | Basaan Festival |
| Observed by | Filipinos |
| Significance | Feast of St. John the Baptist |
| Date | 24 June |
| Next time | 24 June 2026 |
| Frequency | Annual |
The Wattah Wattah Festival, also known as the Basaan Festival, is a fun and wet celebration in the Philippines. "Basaan" literally means "dousing of water." This festival celebrates the feast day of Saint John the Baptist, who is the patron saint of many towns across the Philippines, including San Juan, Metro Manila. It happens every year on June 24th.
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About the Wattah Wattah Festival
Filipinos celebrate the birthday of Saint John the Baptist. He was an important person in the Christian faith. He prepared people for the coming of Jesus Christ by baptizing them with water.
John the Baptist's birthday is one of the few saint birthdays celebrated. Most other saints are remembered on the day they died. This makes his feast day extra special.
Why Water is Important
The festival's main activity involves water. This reminds people of John the Baptist's role. He used water to cleanse and prepare people. The Bible says he baptized people with water. He also spoke about someone greater who would baptize with the Holy Spirit.
How People Celebrate
During the festival, children and adults line the streets. They playfully douse passersby with water. This tradition is called basaan or buhusan, which means "wetting" or "dousing." It is meant to remind everyone of their own baptism.
People enjoy water fights and other wet games. They use dippers, pails, hoses, and even water pistols. Older people might sprinkle perfumed water from coconut shells. In the countryside, some go swimming in beaches, rivers, or springs. They believe that getting wet on this day brings God's blessings.
It is common for buses, cars, and jeeps passing by to get splashed. People throw water with great excitement. This custom honors Saint John's life and mission.
Where to Celebrate
People across the Philippines celebrate this feast in different ways. Some of the most popular celebrations happen in these places:
- Balayan, Batangas
- Calumpit, Bulacan
- Aliaga, Nueva Ecija
- Cavite City, Cavite
- San Juan, Metro Manila
