Butuan's Kahimunan Festival

Held every third Sunday of January, KAHIMUNAN FESTIVAL is Butuan’s way of showing its gratitude towards one of its patron saints, the Sto. Nino, also known as the Child Jesus. The word “Kahimunan” is from a dialect meaing the “gathering”. On the day of the Kahimunan Festival, participants line up the streets to present exotic dances and ceremonies. Dancers are dressed up in colorful costumes as they dance to native music. Theatrical performances of ceremonies and dances are highlighted as they decorate the streets with their exotic costumes and native ornaments such as baskets, spears and other accessories. Kahimunan Festival is the city’s tribute to Sto. Nino for providing its residents with a bountiful harvest and many blessings. The main theme of the ceremonies in the Kahimunan Festival is a combination of the area’s pre-colonial culture and its affiliation with Christianity.