"Vodka" at Holy Week?

Is Holy Week really holy? This has been a big question in my mind since I was young. I know that Holy Week is the time to commemorate the suffering and sacrifices of Jesus Christ for all of us. It's also the time to repent and go back to God's embrace and do some penance like fasting.

Time to abstain from eating meat (since it is considered flesh by Catholic) on Friday to honor the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday. But there is a big "BUT" in all of these christian doctrine that we must adhere and do by law of spiritual teachings.

My mom has a store and right at this moment (Holy week, it is usually celebrated on April), i hear someone say, "Do you have "The Bar" (one of the brand of Vodka sold in the Philippines)", my mom says, "we do have", and the man says, "Three Long Neck please." (He's pertaining to a 700 ml of vodka).

Can you imagine how people have changed over time. When i was a kid, mostly i saw old women in some church, reading and singing "Pasyon" (The Passion of Christ), and very few are drinking beers or wine. But now that I am already 28 years old, I saw more men with alcoholic drinks on their hand, rather than a book of Passion Christ. Not only that, more and more of today's family are out of town, swimming.(Though I am also guilty of this act, last year we went to Batangas beach resort).

I won't blame those men or family who are celebrating holy week in different ways, since this is the only time that they are out of office to bond with family and friends. But whatever they are doing right now, let's not forget that the essence of this celebration is to stay away from sin and be back to our God.

How about you? How do you celebrate holy week?