Bedroom Altar - Interesting Custom

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Well I’m Filipino and growing up I remember my parents and family members always set up altars in their living rooms or bedrooms. On these makeshift altars they would place devotional candles, crucifixes, El Santo Nino, rosaries, and just regular sacramentals and religious articles. From research, I discovered that this practice originated from the Spanish and how they encouraged the Filipino Indios to create altars and bring the Church home. As a teen, I too have an altar in my bedroom, one that rivals the one in the living room :D. In Filipino communities, the living room altar identifies a Catholic Filipino household.

Do any other cultures or individuals create altars in the home or bedroom?
 
I was raised in Miami, Fl, where there was a lot of latin influence, especially from Cuba. Many of my Cuban friends had such alters in their homes, especially their Grandparents. I remember a friend of mine’s mother had a huge one, they had a closet off their living room, with double doors. And they would leave it open, it was awesome, they had the a huge crucifix, and then various pictures, statues, the Rosary, it was really neat.

They also cleaned everything w/olive oil, so I can till this day remember the smell, between the olive oil. the candles and incense… Thanks for reminding me of that…

My friend told me every morning and night his mom would go there and pray…

I only have something small in my bedroom, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Rosary, Bible, and many days I light a candle, and sometimes incense, in front of the Sacred Heart.
 
It is certainly one of the most notable features of traditional homes here. The Valley is 80% Hispanic, most of that Mexican. Upon entering a home here the altarcito is the first thing you are likely to see and the focal point of the front room. The TV, in contrast to many American homes today, is NOT the central focus, and in fact is usually in a back room someplace. Many people also have a smaller shrine in their bedrooms usually with pictures of deceased or absent relatives, as well as the usual religious articles.
 
I have small family shrine in the living room, my mother has a medium-sized shrine in her room and I have a HUGE shrine in my room. Since I am Latina, it is a part of our culture to have many images of Saints, Jesus and Mary all around the house as if they were family pictures. 😉

God bless
 
I have a small altar at the foot of my bed, with items representing numerous religious faiths. Thanks to the OP for starting this thread; I had never thought about different countries and ethnic traditions being more predisposed to having altars. 🙂

Miz
 
jdc209 said:
Well I’m Filipino and growing up I remember my parents and family members always set up altars in their living rooms or bedrooms. On these makeshift altars they would place devotional candles, crucifixes, El Santo Nino, rosaries, and just regular sacramentals and religious articles. From research, I discovered that this practice originated from the Spanish and how they encouraged the Filipino Indios to create altars and bring the Church home. As a teen, I too have an altar in my bedroom, one that rivals the one in the living room :D. In Filipino communities, the living room altar identifies a Catholic Filipino household.

Do any other cultures or individuals create altars in the home or bedroom?
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jdc, you should visit ancestral homes in the Philippines, those old preserved homes from the Spanish era. they have a specific prayer room with a kneeler and dozens of statues and other religious artifacts

i still carry this practice 'til today. yes, my parents does it, and i carried it along. although my altar at home is nothing compared to the usual ones you’ll see back home in the Philippines. but i’m hoping for something better in the future, i haven’t fully decorated at my home. i can remember my godfather has this big bible with really fancy letterings on their living room altar. i want one but don’t know where to get one. the lettering is old english, really nice
 
I remember when young an Australian family being very proud of having their own home altar and having the priest around to bless it.

Here at home I have two areas like altars one for general prayers and one for the Rosary and Christian Prayer. These have crucifixes, rosaries, some holy pictures, bibles, holy books and even some relics. One is in my living room and one in the bedroom.
 
Choy, I’ve been to my grandmother’s home in the Philippines, a big wall enclosed fortress haha. At her house, the altar is intermixed with a grotto/nature scene inside the large sala so it’s pretty cool looking. 👍
 
of course, i am also a Filipino! 😃

when we were in Malabon, we had a bedroom altar. It was a little shrine for the child Jesus. There’s also a picture of the face of Divine Mercy. We also have a living room altar, where Our Lady and Jesus King of Mercy are.

When we moved in Batangas, we weren’t able to bring our bedroom “shrine”. We still have the living room altar, although there are additions, like the Crucifix, Saint Augustine, etc. Before it was so crowded, but now it’s simple which is better. 👍👍
 
For a couple of months, the focal point of my bed room altar was El Santo Nino, but I don’t seem to share the devotion to the Child Jesus as my other Filipino counterparts. Instead, I got a crucifix in the middle, so when I kneel in front of the altar I can be reminded of our Lord’s sacrifice. (I still have El Santo Nino in the side too.)
 
I set up a small shrine/prayer area in my room and it’s made a big difference in my prayer life. It’s my place to get away from it all. 🙂

Eventually I’d love to set one up downstairs, we have the space for it if we move some stuff around/and or get rid of some stuff we never use again.
 
I am really wanting to create a home altar in my living room room or bedroom but I do not currently have but one table that would work and that table is what my cat routinely uses to look out the window. So, I need to find an inexpensive table that would work for a home altar. If anyone knows of one online, I’d appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut either via PM, Profile Visitor Message, Instant Message, or on this thread! Thanks! 👍
 
Holly3278, for my bedroom altar, I actually am using just two simple toy lockers that are pretty high but not too high. The trick is to place a table cloth or another appropriate covering on the table or in this case, lockers, to disguise whatever your using. Anything can work with some camouflage. Our living room altar is basically set up on top of a set of drawers. Of course, there’s the small closet method, which I think is pretty awesome since I’ve seen some elaborate ones.
 
I don’t have an altar, but on the back of my door all around my mirror, I taped up a whole bunch of Holy Cards and inspirational stuff. I try to make each one have a special meaning. My favorite is a little scrap of paper that says “I love you Katie” written by my 7 yr old cousin when I was really feeling down. Now if that’s not God working through Him, I don’t know what is. 🙂
I absolutely love having all of those holy people looking at me every day!

-Jeanne
 
I hope I am not derailing this thread, but as there are references here from Phillipinos, may I ask about the devotion to El Nino Santos, the Child Jesus, which seems so popular there? A friend brought me a lovely carved image from the Phillipines of the child king along with a prayer

Dear Child Jesus
In my difficulties, help me
From the enemies of my soul, save me
In my errors, enlighten me
In my doubts and pains, comfort me
In my solitudes, be with me
In my diseases, invigorate me
When others despise me, encourage me
In temptations, defend me
In difficult hours, strengthen me
With your maternal heart, love me
With your immense power, protect me
And, into your arms, when I die, receive me
Amen

I have it in my office and often wonder how widespread this devotion is in other places, what the origins are, etc. Any information?
 
Hi Irish Am!

Just a little pet peeve of mine but we’re Filipinos not “Phillipinos” haha. Try looking at this article from Wikipedia for a history of El Santo Nino:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Ni%C3%B1o_de_Ceb%C3%BA

Basically, from various explorers like Ferdinand Magellan and Juan de Camus, statues of the Child Jesus made their way to the Philippines, enhancing the spiritual lives of the Indios. The reason the devotion is so popular I think is that the Child Jesus (El Santo Nino) represents innocence and so people want to reflect that in their lives. One can find El Santo Nino statues dressed up differently, in elaborate robes or simple dress. Of the three Santo Ninos at my house, two are in simple dress and one made of porcelain is wearing robes.
 
jdc209 said:
Hi Irish Am!

Just a little pet peeve of mine but we’re Filipinos not “Phillipinos” haha. Try looking at this article from Wikipedia for a history of El Santo Nino:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Ni%C3%B1o_de_Ceb%C3%BA

Basically, from various explorers like Ferdinand Magellan and Juan de Camus, statues of the Child Jesus made their way to the Philippines, enhancing the spiritual lives of the Indios. The reason the devotion is so popular I think is that the Child Jesus (El Santo Nino) represents innocence and so people want to reflect that in their lives. One can find El Santo Nino statues dressed up differently, in elaborate robes or simple dress. Of the three Santo Ninos at my house, two are in simple dress and one made of porcelain is wearing robes.
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Thank you for educating me (on several things – I’m a firm believer in calling people what THEY choose to be called; and now I know!!).
 
Regarding devotion to the Santo Nino, as was mentioned different cultures have devotions to different manifestations of the Holy Child. One popular in Spanish speaking countries (and to which my Mexican grandmother had a great devotion to was the Santo Nino de Atocha, pictured here:

http://www.johntoddjr.com/36 Atocha/images/11 cuadro1.jpg

More info here.

Regarding home shrines: I have a friend who makes hand made shrines. Here is his website:

Joseph and Son’s Furniture

http://www.thepeoplesprayer.com/images/josephandsons/smalter3.jpg
 
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