In 0ur culture, Holy week is a long holiday off from work. The whole family goes to Grotto every Black Saturday (Sabado de Gloria) and then off to Laguna hot springs or other swim places. It has been that way since I was a kid. I grew up going to Grotto, praying as we stop on every station of the cross then after buy all sort of food as pasalubong or just something to munch along our travel. My husband was able to join the family at least twice and we really enjoyed it. Same tradition continued for them but not for us. Black Saturday was still a busy day for us here so I just read the booklets I got from the church and we prayed the rosary together before bed... the rosary my mom gave on the day of our flight. It felt good! Me and my husband felt even closer after the rosary, like it's a bond keeping us tighter together.

I have no idea how other cultures celebrate the Holy Week and this is my first time being immersed in such. I'm okay missing the family tradition, it's inevitable. Now that we're settled so far from them we just have to keep the tradition alive in our ways. Through that it feels like nothing's changed. I already have their photos for that day, looking at it will be part of our joy and memories.