Flores de Mayo at Santacruzan
Flores, from Spanish flores or "flowers," also known as Flores de Mayo (flowers of May), Flores de Maria (flowers of Mary) or alay (offering), may refer to the whole Flower Festival celebrated in the month of May in honor of the Virgin Mary. In the Tagalog region, this custom and celebration started after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 and after the publication circa 1867 of Mariano Sevilla's translation of the devotional Flores de Maria or Mariquit na Bulaclac na sa Pagninilaynilay sa Buong Buan nang Mayo ay Inihahandog nang mga Devoto kay Maria Santisima (The Flowers of Mary or the Beautiful Flowers that in the Meditations During the Whole Month of May are Offered by Devotees to Mary the Holiest).
A Santacruzan is a religious-historical beauty pagent held in many cities, towns and even smll villages throughout the Philippines during the month of May. One of the most colorful May-time festivals in the Philippines which depicts the finding of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. Many movie and television personalities participate in the events and are featured as major sagalas and escorts. The festivity commemorates the search of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena (Reina Elena) and her son, the newly converted emperor Constantine. After the Holy Cross was found in Jerusalem and brought back to Rome, there was a joyful celebration for thanksgiving.
Nine days of prayer (a novena) in honor of the Holy Cross precedes the Flores de Mayo or Santacruzan. This festival was introduced by the Spaniards in the Philippines and has since become part of Filipino traditions identified with youth, love and romance. This colorful pageant parade is arranged in this order:
1. Methuselah - he is bearded, bent with age, riding a cart looking preoccupied with toasting some grains of sand in a pan over a fire. This is a reminder that all that glitters will end up as dust like what he is toasting.
2. Reyna Banderada - a young lady dressed in a long red gown carrying a yellow triangular flag. She represents the coming of Christianity.
3. Aetas - represent the state of the country before the coming of Christianity. These are the unconverted Filipino pagans.4. Reyna Mora - represents the dominant religion before Christianity (feminine of Moro from the Moslem religion).
4. Reyna Fe - symbolizes the virtue of faith - the first of the theological virtues. She carries a cross.
5. Reyna Esperanza - symbolizes the virtue of hope - the second theological virtue. She carries an anchor.
6. Reyna Caridad - symbolizes the virtue of charity - the third theological virtue. She carries a red heart.
7. Reyna Abogada - the defender of the poor and the oppressed. She wears a black graduation cap (toga) and gown and she carries a big book.
8. Reyna Sentenciada - has her slim hands bound by a rope. She is the symbol of the innocents who have been convicted. She is accompanied by two Roman soldiers.
9. Reyna Justicia - a personification of the "mirror of justice". She carries a weighing scale and a sword.
10. Reyna Judith - representing Judith of Pethulia who saved her city from the Assyrians after she beheaded the cruel holoferns. She carries the head of the beheaded man on one hand and a sword on the other.
11. Reyna Sheba - who visited the famed King Solomon and was overwhelmed by his wisdom, power and richess. She carries a jewelry box.
12. Reyna Esther - the biblical Jewish who spared her countrymen from death and destruction through timely intervention with the King Xerxes. She carries a scepter.
13. Samaritana - the woman who Christ spoke to at the well. She carries a jug on her shoulder.
14. Veronica - the woman who wiped the face of Jesus. She carries a bandana imprinted with the three faces of Jesus.
15. Tres Marias: Mary of Magdala - she carries a bottle of perfume; Mary, Mother of Christ - she carries a handkerchief; Mary, mother of James - she carries a bottle of oil.
16. Marian - celebrating the many titles of the Virgin Mary.
· A-v-e--M-a-r-i-a -- represented by eight (8) girls all Wearing long white dressess with wings to make them look like angels. Each one carries a letter to complete the word "AVE MARIA."
· Divina pastora (Divine Shepherdess) - she carries a shepherdess' staff.
· Reyna de las Estrellas (Queen of Stars) - she carries a wand with a star.
· Rosa Mystica - she carries a bouquet of roses.
· Reyna Paz (queen of peace) - she carries the symbol of peace.
· Reyna de las Propetas - she carries a hour glass.
· Reyna del Cielo (Queen of Heaven) she carries a flower. She has two (2) angels.
· Reyna de las Virgines - she carries a rosary and is surrounded by two (2) little angels.
· Reyna de las Flores (Queen of Flowers) - she carries a bouquet of flowers.
17. Reyna Elena (Queen Helena) - the legendary founder of the true Cross, represented by the small cross she carries. She is escorted by her son, Constantine. The procession is followed by the steady beat of rondalla, playing and singing "Dios Te Salve". The devotees walking with the procession hold lighted candles in their hands and singing the prayer.
Dios Te Salve (Hail Mary)Dios te salve MariaLlena eres de graciaEl senor es contigoBendita tu eresEntre todas las mujeresY bendito es el frutoY bendito es el frutoDe tu vientre Jesus.
Santa Maria Madre de DiosRuega por nosotrosPecadores ahoraY en la horaDe nuestra muerte amen. Jesus.
After the procession there is a pabitin that serves as a culminating activity for all the children to enjoy. Pabitin is a square trellis where goodies (candies, fruits, etc.) are hung by strings. This trellis in turn is tied to a rope and is suspended on a strong branch or pole. The children gather under the trellis and they jump as high as they can to try to pick the goodies as the trellis gets lowered to them while someone pulls it up and down repeatedly until the goodies are gone.
For the Santacruzan to be more exciting, the chosen Reina Elena is kept a secret until the day of the parade to surprise the people.
It is requested that male members attending the Santacruzan wear Barong Tagalog and the women wear any Filipino costumes, if available.
Flores de Mayo(Flowers of May)
Stop and smell the roses. During the month of May, in the tropical islands of the Philippines (where my roots are), we don't have to stop -- the fragrance of flowers floats in the air. When the rains begin to pour after a long dry spell, flowers magically bloom overnight. And being predominantly Catholic, the Filipinos celebrate the beneficial rains by giving praise to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The townfolk gather the colorful flowers to decorate the Parish Church altars and aisles. They bundle the blooms in exotic arrangements for the many different festivities all together referred to as the "Flores De Mayo" (Flowers of May). Many towns celebrate Flores De Mayo with the community congregating in the afternoons to pray the rosary, offer flowers to the Virgin Mary, and share homemade delicacies and snacks. Children and adults wearing their Sunday best, sing and dance to welcome the rains that will water the new crops.
In many parishes, these afternoon festivities culminate in an elaborate procession to the Church where an evening mass is celebrated. The procession is called "Santacruzan" (Festival of the Holy Cross), a commemoration of the finding of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem by Saint Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. The townfolk choose pretty young ladies to represent the various characters of the commemoration: the "Accolades of Our Lady". Each one is dressed in an exquisite, colorful gown, looking as regal as the Reina (Queen) she portrays. Reina Fe (Faith), Reina Esperanza (Hope), Reina Caridad (Charity), Reina Mora (Muslim), Reina Banderada (Flag), and Reina Justicia (Justice) walk with their consorts under hand-carried bamboo arches decked with color-themed native flowers. The highlight of the procession is the magestic Reina Elena (Queen Helena) who walks with her consort, Prinsipe Constantino, under a huge canopy of May flowers. Immediately behind her is a float carrying the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, followed by a brass band that lends the festive sounds to the procession. As the pageant moves along the streets, devotees holding lit candles follow, and join in the rosary, novena, and songs of praise. Oftentimes, after the evening Mass, the town Mayor hosts a dinner party to cap the celebrations. This Filipino tradition ("The Queen of May Festivities"), introduced by the Spanish conquerors, is more than 100 years old and lives on even in Europe and America. Filipino Communities and Associations all over the world celebrate the Santacruzan with the same pageantry and glamor as the townfolk in their homeland. Filipino-Americans in New Orleans maintain the tradition courtesy of The Franzuela Family. In Europe, the Euro-Santacruzan is hosted by The Filipino Community in Belgium. In the month of May, Filipinos don't need to stop to smell the flowers. The fragrance of sampaguitas (Philippines' National Flower), kalachuchis, roses and other blooms, floats in the air.
Flores, from Spanish flores or "flowers," also known as Flores de Mayo (flowers of May), Flores de Maria (flowers of Mary) or alay (offering), may refer to the whole Flower Festival celebrated in the month of May in honor of the Virgin Mary. In the Tagalog region, this custom and celebration started after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 and after the publication circa 1867 of Mariano Sevilla's translation of the devotional Flores de Maria or Mariquit na Bulaclac na sa Pagninilaynilay sa Buong Buan nang Mayo ay Inihahandog nang mga Devoto kay Maria Santisima (The Flowers of Mary or the Beautiful Flowers that in the Meditations During the Whole Month of May are Offered by Devotees to Mary the Holiest).
A Santacruzan is a religious-historical beauty pagent held in many cities, towns and even smll villages throughout the Philippines during the month of May. One of the most colorful May-time festivals in the Philippines which depicts the finding of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. Many movie and television personalities participate in the events and are featured as major sagalas and escorts. The festivity commemorates the search of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena (Reina Elena) and her son, the newly converted emperor Constantine. After the Holy Cross was found in Jerusalem and brought back to Rome, there was a joyful celebration for thanksgiving.
Nine days of prayer (a novena) in honor of the Holy Cross precedes the Flores de Mayo or Santacruzan. This festival was introduced by the Spaniards in the Philippines and has since become part of Filipino traditions identified with youth, love and romance. This colorful pageant parade is arranged in this order:
1. Methuselah - he is bearded, bent with age, riding a cart looking preoccupied with toasting some grains of sand in a pan over a fire. This is a reminder that all that glitters will end up as dust like what he is toasting.
2. Reyna Banderada - a young lady dressed in a long red gown carrying a yellow triangular flag. She represents the coming of Christianity.
3. Aetas - represent the state of the country before the coming of Christianity. These are the unconverted Filipino pagans.4. Reyna Mora - represents the dominant religion before Christianity (feminine of Moro from the Moslem religion).
4. Reyna Fe - symbolizes the virtue of faith - the first of the theological virtues. She carries a cross.
5. Reyna Esperanza - symbolizes the virtue of hope - the second theological virtue. She carries an anchor.
6. Reyna Caridad - symbolizes the virtue of charity - the third theological virtue. She carries a red heart.
7. Reyna Abogada - the defender of the poor and the oppressed. She wears a black graduation cap (toga) and gown and she carries a big book.
8. Reyna Sentenciada - has her slim hands bound by a rope. She is the symbol of the innocents who have been convicted. She is accompanied by two Roman soldiers.
9. Reyna Justicia - a personification of the "mirror of justice". She carries a weighing scale and a sword.
10. Reyna Judith - representing Judith of Pethulia who saved her city from the Assyrians after she beheaded the cruel holoferns. She carries the head of the beheaded man on one hand and a sword on the other.
11. Reyna Sheba - who visited the famed King Solomon and was overwhelmed by his wisdom, power and richess. She carries a jewelry box.
12. Reyna Esther - the biblical Jewish who spared her countrymen from death and destruction through timely intervention with the King Xerxes. She carries a scepter.
13. Samaritana - the woman who Christ spoke to at the well. She carries a jug on her shoulder.
14. Veronica - the woman who wiped the face of Jesus. She carries a bandana imprinted with the three faces of Jesus.
15. Tres Marias: Mary of Magdala - she carries a bottle of perfume; Mary, Mother of Christ - she carries a handkerchief; Mary, mother of James - she carries a bottle of oil.
16. Marian - celebrating the many titles of the Virgin Mary.
· A-v-e--M-a-r-i-a -- represented by eight (8) girls all Wearing long white dressess with wings to make them look like angels. Each one carries a letter to complete the word "AVE MARIA."
· Divina pastora (Divine Shepherdess) - she carries a shepherdess' staff.
· Reyna de las Estrellas (Queen of Stars) - she carries a wand with a star.
· Rosa Mystica - she carries a bouquet of roses.
· Reyna Paz (queen of peace) - she carries the symbol of peace.
· Reyna de las Propetas - she carries a hour glass.
· Reyna del Cielo (Queen of Heaven) she carries a flower. She has two (2) angels.
· Reyna de las Virgines - she carries a rosary and is surrounded by two (2) little angels.
· Reyna de las Flores (Queen of Flowers) - she carries a bouquet of flowers.
17. Reyna Elena (Queen Helena) - the legendary founder of the true Cross, represented by the small cross she carries. She is escorted by her son, Constantine. The procession is followed by the steady beat of rondalla, playing and singing "Dios Te Salve". The devotees walking with the procession hold lighted candles in their hands and singing the prayer.
Dios Te Salve (Hail Mary)Dios te salve MariaLlena eres de graciaEl senor es contigoBendita tu eresEntre todas las mujeresY bendito es el frutoY bendito es el frutoDe tu vientre Jesus.
Santa Maria Madre de DiosRuega por nosotrosPecadores ahoraY en la horaDe nuestra muerte amen. Jesus.
After the procession there is a pabitin that serves as a culminating activity for all the children to enjoy. Pabitin is a square trellis where goodies (candies, fruits, etc.) are hung by strings. This trellis in turn is tied to a rope and is suspended on a strong branch or pole. The children gather under the trellis and they jump as high as they can to try to pick the goodies as the trellis gets lowered to them while someone pulls it up and down repeatedly until the goodies are gone.
For the Santacruzan to be more exciting, the chosen Reina Elena is kept a secret until the day of the parade to surprise the people.
It is requested that male members attending the Santacruzan wear Barong Tagalog and the women wear any Filipino costumes, if available.
Flores de Mayo(Flowers of May)
Stop and smell the roses. During the month of May, in the tropical islands of the Philippines (where my roots are), we don't have to stop -- the fragrance of flowers floats in the air. When the rains begin to pour after a long dry spell, flowers magically bloom overnight. And being predominantly Catholic, the Filipinos celebrate the beneficial rains by giving praise to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The townfolk gather the colorful flowers to decorate the Parish Church altars and aisles. They bundle the blooms in exotic arrangements for the many different festivities all together referred to as the "Flores De Mayo" (Flowers of May). Many towns celebrate Flores De Mayo with the community congregating in the afternoons to pray the rosary, offer flowers to the Virgin Mary, and share homemade delicacies and snacks. Children and adults wearing their Sunday best, sing and dance to welcome the rains that will water the new crops.
In many parishes, these afternoon festivities culminate in an elaborate procession to the Church where an evening mass is celebrated. The procession is called "Santacruzan" (Festival of the Holy Cross), a commemoration of the finding of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem by Saint Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. The townfolk choose pretty young ladies to represent the various characters of the commemoration: the "Accolades of Our Lady". Each one is dressed in an exquisite, colorful gown, looking as regal as the Reina (Queen) she portrays. Reina Fe (Faith), Reina Esperanza (Hope), Reina Caridad (Charity), Reina Mora (Muslim), Reina Banderada (Flag), and Reina Justicia (Justice) walk with their consorts under hand-carried bamboo arches decked with color-themed native flowers. The highlight of the procession is the magestic Reina Elena (Queen Helena) who walks with her consort, Prinsipe Constantino, under a huge canopy of May flowers. Immediately behind her is a float carrying the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, followed by a brass band that lends the festive sounds to the procession. As the pageant moves along the streets, devotees holding lit candles follow, and join in the rosary, novena, and songs of praise. Oftentimes, after the evening Mass, the town Mayor hosts a dinner party to cap the celebrations. This Filipino tradition ("The Queen of May Festivities"), introduced by the Spanish conquerors, is more than 100 years old and lives on even in Europe and America. Filipino Communities and Associations all over the world celebrate the Santacruzan with the same pageantry and glamor as the townfolk in their homeland. Filipino-Americans in New Orleans maintain the tradition courtesy of The Franzuela Family. In Europe, the Euro-Santacruzan is hosted by The Filipino Community in Belgium. In the month of May, Filipinos don't need to stop to smell the flowers. The fragrance of sampaguitas (Philippines' National Flower), kalachuchis, roses and other blooms, floats in the air.
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