Harana, the Lost Ritual in Filipino Courtship — Steemit (2024)

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Harana, the Lost Ritual in Filipino Courtship — Steemit? ›

Harana is singing to woo women underneath her window at night. On a special evening, a suitor gathers a few of his friends and perhaps the haranista, the barrio's experienced man in this courtship ritual, and troop to the house where the suitor's lady lives.

Harana was a traditional form of courtship in the Philippines wherein men introduced themselves and/or wooed women by singing underneath her window at night. It was widely practiced in old Philippines with a set of protocols, a code of conduct and a specific style of music.

Present-day Filipino courtship, as in the traditional form, also starts with the "teasing stage" conducted by friends. Introductions and meetings between prospective couples are now done through a common friend or whilst attending a party. Modern technology has also become a part of present-day courting practises.

In this tradition, a man will get a group of his friends together to go to the window of the woman he admires. His musician friends accompany him as he sings to the woman. In this special moment, the girl listens and watches as the boy earnestly sings a sweet love song to her.

Courtship in the Philippines is one complex form of courtship. Unlike other societies, it takes a far more subdued and indirect approach. Its complexity involves stages, and it is considered normal for courtship to last a year or longer.

Harana or Serenade. One of the most iconic aspects of traditional Filipino courtship is "harana" or serenading, where a suitor would sing romantic songs beneath the window of their beloved as a gesture of affection.

Harana was an exclusively nocturnal practice. Due to the daytime tropical weather, the evening offers respite from the heat, a time when everybody comes alive, full of romantic ideas, and as is typical of Filipino nature, always ready to enjoy the company of friends and loved ones.

Courting today is slightly different from it was in the past, but it still follows strict traditional principles. Two people will only start courting if they feel they're ready to commit to getting married. A notable difference between dating and courting is that women and men courting wait until marriage to have sex.

In the Philippines, it's common for men to pursue women through a series of romantic gestures, such as sending flowers, writing love letters, and taking them out on dates. While this may seem old-fashioned to some, it's important to understand that this is a sign of respect and commitment in the Philippines.

Courtship is more serious and traditional than dating. It involves getting to know your partner with the expectation that marriage is the end goal. Dating is a broad term that can mean many things, including casual dating, hooking up, or being in a long-term relationship.

Why is harana important? ›

The harana first gained popularity in the early part of the Spanish Philippines period. Its influence comes from folk Music of Spain and the mariachi sounds of Mexico. It is a traditional form of courtship music in which a man woos a woman by singing underneath her window at night.

Unsafe streets at night.

Even if you are in your own neighborhood, it is still dangerous to walk at night. "Harana" is usually done during the night, and that makes it more less attractive idea to do it since it could be dangerous.

Classic examples of traditional harana songs are Ruben Tagalog's “Dungawin Mo,” “Hirang” (“Look Out the WIndow, My Love”), and “Kay Lungkot Nitong Hatinggabi” (“How Sorrowful is the Night”) — all of which are accompanied by a guitar or two.

The 3-month rule is a 90-day trial period where a couple “tests out” a relationship to see if they're compatible. During the 90 days, couples learn about each other's likes, dislikes, and possible red flags. At the end of the 3 months, couples discuss if they want to pursue a long-term relationship.

Be as honest and kind as possible

"Be as honest as you can without harming the other person. If the current arrangement no longer works for you because you're too busy with other commitments, you've started dating someone else, or you've just decided you want more 'me' time, simply say so," Senterfitt advised.

to have a romantic relationship with someone that you hope to marry: They courted for two years before getting married. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Relationships: finding a partner. a heavy date idiom.

A courtship is a period in a romantic couple's relationship when they are dating. Most partners go through a courtship before deciding to get married. Courtship is an old-fashioned word, assuming that two people who love each other will eventually get married.

Classic examples of traditional harana songs are Ruben Tagalog's “Dungawin Mo,” “Hirang” (“Look Out the WIndow, My Love”), and “Kay Lungkot Nitong Hatinggabi” (“How Sorrowful is the Night”) — all of which are accompanied by a guitar or two.