Flores de Mayo
Encyclopedia
Flores de Mayo is a Catholic
festival held in the Philippines
in the month of May. Lasting for a month, it is held in honor of the Virgin Mary. The Santacruzan refers to the pageant on the last day of Flores de Mayo, held in honour of Reyna Elena
and Constantine finding the True Cross
in Jerusalem.
word for "flowers". Also known as "Flores de María" ("Flowers of Mary") or "Álay" (Filipino
for "offering"), the term refers to the festival as a whole. It was believed that "Flores" (short term for Flores de Mayo) originated in 1865 from the town of Malolos, Bulacan
, when the young girls would make a floral offering to the Virgin Mary in the parish church.
, Praesidium Cause of our Joy, and the Rañeses and Alcantara families, with the last day called as "katapusan". The ritual is started with the rosary.
The traditional "Maria" with its respective meaning is said after the recitation of the Spanish
Salve and the litany. After the ceremony, simple snacks are given to the children who attended the devotion. Alabasyon is the term for the prayers sung in honour of the Holy Cross.
In the Katagalugan
In the Tagalog region, this custom and celebration started after the proclamation of the dogma of the Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception) in 1854 and after the publication circa 1867 of Mariano Sevilla's translation of the devotional "Flores de María"("Flowers of Mary"), also known by its longer title "Mariquit na Bulaklak na sa Pagni-nilay-nilay sa Buong Buwan nang Mayo ay Inihahandog nang mga Deboto kay María Santísima" ("Beautiful Flowers that in the Meditations in the Whole Month of May are Offered by Devotees to Mary Most Holy").
by Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. Many movie and television personalities participate in the events and are featured in major sagala. This festival was introduced by the Spaniards and has since become part of Filipino traditions identified with youth, love, and romance.
Prior to the Santacruzan, a novena
is held in honour of the Holy Cross.
The procession itself commemorates the search of the Holy Cross by Reyna Elena and her son, the newly-converted emperor Constantine. After the Holy Cross was found in Jerusalem and brought back to Constantinople, there was a joyful celebration for thanksgiving.
1. Matusalém (Methuselah)- bearded and bent with age, he is depicted as riding a cart and looking preoccupied with toasting some grains of sand in a pan over a fire. This is a reminder that everything in this world is passing and will end up like the dust which he is toasting.
2. Reyna Banderada (Queen with a banner)- a young lady dressed in a long red gown carrying a yellow triangular flag. She represents the arrival of Christianity.
3. Aeta
s - represents the animist Filipinos who have settled the islands prior to Christianization by the Spanish.
4. Reyna Mora (Queen Moor) - represents the Filipinos who converted to Islam
, which arrived in the Philippines two centuries before Christianity.
5. Reyna Fe (Queen Faith) - symbolises Faith, the first of the theological virtues
. She carries a cross.
6. Reyna Esperanza (Queen Hope) - symbolises Hope, the second theological virtue. She carries an anchor.
7. Reyna Caridad (Queen Charity)- symbolises Charity, the third theological virtue. She carries a red-coloured heart.
8. Reyna Abogada (Queen Lawyer) - the defender of the poor and the oppressed, she wears a black graduation cap, gown (toga), and carries a large book. She may also be a representation of Mary, Help (Advocate) of Christians.
9. Reyna Sentenciada (Queen Convicted) - has her hands bound by a rope, she stands for the Early Christians, especially the virgins, who were martyr
ed for the faith. She is accompanied by two Roman soldiers.
10. Reyna Justicía (Queen Justice) - a personification of Mary as the "Mirror of Justice", one of her titles in the Litany of Loreto. Her attributes are a weighing scale and a sword.
11. Reyna Judíth (Queen Judith) - represents the biblical widow Judith of Bethulia who saved her city from the Assyrians by slaying the cruel Holofernes
. She carries the head of her victim in one hand and a sword in the other. She is also known as Infanta Judith.
12. Reyna ng Saba (Queen of Sheba) - represents the Queen of Sheba, who visited King Solomon and was overwhelmed by his wisdom, power, and riches. She carries a jewelry box.
13. Reyna Ester - the Jewish queen of Persia
who spared her people from death at the hands of Haman
through her timely intervention with King Xerxes
. She carries a scepter.
14. Cleopatra- the queen of Egypt. She is escorted by a man representing Mark Anthony.
15. Samaritana (The Female Samaritan) - the woman with whom Christ spoke to at the well. She carries a jug on her shoulder.
16. Santa Verónica - the woman who wiped the face of Jesus
; bears a veil with three imprints
of the face of Jesus.
17. Tres Marías (The Three Marys)- each Mary holds an attribute associated with her:
a. Santa Maria Magdalena (St. Mary Magdalene) - a bottle of perfume;
b. The Virgin Mary - a handkerchief;
c. Mary, the mother of James - a bottle of oil.
18. Marian - each figure in this group alludes to a title of the Virgin Mary or to a figure associated with her.
a. "A-V-E--M-A-R-I-A" - eight "angels": girls all wearing long white dresses and wings- each holding a letter from the word "AVE MARIA."
b. Divina Pastora (Divine Shepherdess) - a shepherd's staff.
c. Reyna de los Angeles(Queen of Angels)- bouquet of white flowers, escorted by angels.
d. Luklukan ng Karunungan (Seat of Wisdom)- a Bible.
e. Susi ng Langit (Key of Heaven)- a key.
f. Reyna de las Estrellas (Queen of the Stars) - a wand with a star.
g. Rosa Mystica (Mystical Rose)- a bouquet of roses.
h. Puso ni Maria/ Corazon de Maria (Heart of Mary)- a pink heart.
i. Santo Rosario (Holy Rosary)- she carries a big rosary.
j. Buwan (Moon)- she represents the moon, as the throne of the Virgin Mary.
k. Reyna Candelaria (Queen of Candles)- she carries a long lit candle.
l. Reyna de la Paz (Queen of Peace) - a dove.
m. Reyna de los Profetas (Queen of the Prophets)- an hourglass.
n. Reyna del Cielo (Queen of Heaven
)- a flower; accompanied by two little "angels".
o. Reyna de las Vírgenes (Queen of the Virgins) - a rosary
(or a lily); also escorted by two little "angels".
p. Reyna de las Flores (Queen of the Flowers) - The queen of Flores de Mayo. She carries a bouquet of flowers.
18. Reyna Elena (Queen Helena
) - the last member of the procession, she represents Helena of Constantinople who found the True Cross
; this is alluded to by her attribute, a small cross or crucifix
that she carries in her arms. This considerably prestigious role is usually awarded to the most beautiful girl participating in the pageant. In some communities, the identity of the woman who will portray the Reyna Elena is kept a secret until the day of the procession. In the Santacruzan, there are three Reyna Elenas.
a. Constantíno - the escort of Reyna Elena III; traditionally a young boy representing the Emperor Constantine.
19. Reyna Emperatriz- (Queen Empress)- she is the mother of Reyna Elena. She wears a long red or white gown woth a cape and carries a scepter.
The procession is accompanied by the steady beat of the rondalla
, playing and singing the Hail Mary
("Dios Te Salve"). The devotees walking with the procession hold lighted candles in their hands and sing the prayer as they go along.
Dios Te Salve (Hail Mary)
Dios te salve Maria
Llena eres de gracia
El senor es contigo
Bendita tu eres
Entre todas las mujeres
Y bendito es el fruto
Y bendito es el fruto
De tu vientre Jesus.
Santa Maria Madre de Dios
Ruega por nosotros
Pecadores ahora
Y en la hora
De nuestra muerte amen. Jesus.
After the procession, there is a pabítin that serves as a culminating activity for all the children to enjoy. A Pabítin is a square trellis to which goodies (candies, fruits, small trinkets, etc.) are tied with strings. This trellis in turn is tied to a rope and is suspended on a strong branch or pole. Children then gather under the trellis as the it is slowly lowered. They then jump as high as they can to try to pick the goodies while someone jerks it up and down repeatedly until all the goodies are gone.
It is customary for males attending the Santacruzan wear the traditional Barong Tagalog
and that the females wear any Filipiniana-inspired dress.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
festival held in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in the month of May. Lasting for a month, it is held in honor of the Virgin Mary. The Santacruzan refers to the pageant on the last day of Flores de Mayo, held in honour of Reyna Elena
Helena of Constantinople
Saint Helena also known as Saint Helen, Helena Augusta or Helena of Constantinople was the consort of Emperor Constantius, and the mother of Emperor Constantine I...
and Constantine finding the True Cross
True Cross
The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a...
in Jerusalem.
Etymology
The name is derived from Flores, the SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
word for "flowers". Also known as "Flores de María" ("Flowers of Mary") or "Álay" (Filipino
Filipino language
This move has drawn much criticism from other regional groups.In 1987, a new constitution introduced many provisions for the language.Article XIV, Section 6, omits any mention of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino, and states that:...
for "offering"), the term refers to the festival as a whole. It was believed that "Flores" (short term for Flores de Mayo) originated in 1865 from the town of Malolos, Bulacan
Bulacan
Bulacan , officially called the Province of Bulacan or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon, north of Manila , and part of the Metro...
, when the young girls would make a floral offering to the Virgin Mary in the parish church.
In the Bicolandia
In the Bicol region, especially in the locality of Barangay Sabang in Naga City, the Flores de Mayo is held every Wednesday and Saturday of May. It is headed by the Legion of MaryLegion of Mary
The Legion of Mary is an association of Catholic laity who serve the Church on a voluntary basis. It was founded in Dublin, Ireland, as a Roman Catholic Marian Movement by layman Frank Duff. Today between active and auxiliary members there are in excess of 10 million members worldwide making it...
, Praesidium Cause of our Joy, and the Rañeses and Alcantara families, with the last day called as "katapusan". The ritual is started with the rosary.
The traditional "Maria" with its respective meaning is said after the recitation of the Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
Salve and the litany. After the ceremony, simple snacks are given to the children who attended the devotion. Alabasyon is the term for the prayers sung in honour of the Holy Cross.
In the KatagaluganTagalog peopleThe Tagalog people are an ethnic group in the Philippines. The name Tagalog comes from either the native term tagá-ilog, meaning 'people living along the river', or another native term, tagá-alog, meaning 'people living along the ford', a ford being a shallow part of a river or stream where people,...
In the Tagalog region, this custom and celebration started after the proclamation of the dogma of the Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception) in 1854 and after the publication circa 1867 of Mariano Sevilla's translation of the devotional "Flores de María"("Flowers of Mary"), also known by its longer title "Mariquit na Bulaklak na sa Pagni-nilay-nilay sa Buong Buwan nang Mayo ay Inihahandog nang mga Deboto kay María Santísima" ("Beautiful Flowers that in the Meditations in the Whole Month of May are Offered by Devotees to Mary Most Holy").The Sagala
A Sagala is a religio-historical beauty pageant held in many cities, towns, and even in small communities throughout the Philippines during the month of May. One of the most colourful aspects of this festival, the pageant depicts the finding of the Holy CrossTrue Cross
The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a...
by Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. Many movie and television personalities participate in the events and are featured in major sagala. This festival was introduced by the Spaniards and has since become part of Filipino traditions identified with youth, love, and romance.
Prior to the Santacruzan, a novena
Novena
In the Catholic Church, a novena is a devotion consisting of a prayer repeated on nine successive days, asking to obtain special graces. The prayers may come from prayer books, or consist of the recitation of the Rosary , or of short prayers through the day...
is held in honour of the Holy Cross.
The procession itself commemorates the search of the Holy Cross by Reyna Elena and her son, the newly-converted emperor Constantine. After the Holy Cross was found in Jerusalem and brought back to Constantinople, there was a joyful celebration for thanksgiving.
Order of the procession
The participants of this pageant would follow this typical arrangement:1. Matusalém (Methuselah)- bearded and bent with age, he is depicted as riding a cart and looking preoccupied with toasting some grains of sand in a pan over a fire. This is a reminder that everything in this world is passing and will end up like the dust which he is toasting.
2. Reyna Banderada (Queen with a banner)- a young lady dressed in a long red gown carrying a yellow triangular flag. She represents the arrival of Christianity.
3. Aeta
Aeta
The Aeta , Agta or Ayta are an indigenous people who live in scattered, isolated mountainous parts of Luzon, Philippines. They are considered to be Negritos, who are dark to very dark brown-skinned and tend to have features such as a small stature, small frame, curly to kinky afro-like textured...
s - represents the animist Filipinos who have settled the islands prior to Christianization by the Spanish.
4. Reyna Mora (Queen Moor) - represents the Filipinos who converted to Islam
Islam in the Philippines
Islam is the oldest recorded monotheistic religion in the Philippines. Islam reached the Philippines between the 12th and 14th century with the arrival of Muslim traders from Persian Gulf and the Malabar Coast in Southern India, and their followers from several sultanate governments in the Malay...
, which arrived in the Philippines two centuries before Christianity.
5. Reyna Fe (Queen Faith) - symbolises Faith, the first of the theological virtues
Theological virtues
Theological virtues - in theology and Christian philosophy, are the character qualities associated with salvation, resulting from the grace of God, which enlightens human mind.- In the Bible :The three theological virtues are:...
. She carries a cross.
6. Reyna Esperanza (Queen Hope) - symbolises Hope, the second theological virtue. She carries an anchor.
7. Reyna Caridad (Queen Charity)- symbolises Charity, the third theological virtue. She carries a red-coloured heart.
8. Reyna Abogada (Queen Lawyer) - the defender of the poor and the oppressed, she wears a black graduation cap, gown (toga), and carries a large book. She may also be a representation of Mary, Help (Advocate) of Christians.
9. Reyna Sentenciada (Queen Convicted) - has her hands bound by a rope, she stands for the Early Christians, especially the virgins, who were martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
ed for the faith. She is accompanied by two Roman soldiers.
10. Reyna Justicía (Queen Justice) - a personification of Mary as the "Mirror of Justice", one of her titles in the Litany of Loreto. Her attributes are a weighing scale and a sword.
11. Reyna Judíth (Queen Judith) - represents the biblical widow Judith of Bethulia who saved her city from the Assyrians by slaying the cruel Holofernes
Holofernes
In the deuterocanonical Book of Judith Holofernes was an invading general of Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar dispatched Holofernes to take vengeance on the nations of the west that had withheld their assistance to his reign...
. She carries the head of her victim in one hand and a sword in the other. She is also known as Infanta Judith.
12. Reyna ng Saba (Queen of Sheba) - represents the Queen of Sheba, who visited King Solomon and was overwhelmed by his wisdom, power, and riches. She carries a jewelry box.
13. Reyna Ester - the Jewish queen of Persia
Esther
Esther , born Hadassah, is the eponymous heroine of the Biblical Book of Esther.According to the Bible, she was a Jewish queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus...
who spared her people from death at the hands of Haman
Haman
Haman can be a surname which is a corruption of the German Hamann. It is also a biblical surname as described below. It also refers to:*Haman , appears in the Book of Esther and is the main antagonist in the Jewish holiday of Purim....
through her timely intervention with King Xerxes
Ahasuerus
Ahasuerus is a name used several times in the Hebrew Bible, as well as related legends and Apocrypha. This name is applied in the Hebrew Scriptures to three rulers...
. She carries a scepter.
14. Cleopatra- the queen of Egypt. She is escorted by a man representing Mark Anthony.
15. Samaritana (The Female Samaritan) - the woman with whom Christ spoke to at the well. She carries a jug on her shoulder.
16. Santa Verónica - the woman who wiped the face of Jesus
Saint Veronica
Saint Veronica or Berenice, according to the "Acta Sanctorum" published by the Bollandists , was a pious woman of Jerusalem who, moved with pity as Jesus carried his cross to Golgotha, gave him her veil that he might wipe his forehead...
; bears a veil with three imprints
Veil of Veronica
The Veil of Veronica, or Sudarium , often called simply "The Veronica" and known in Italian as the Volto Santo or Holy Face is a Catholic relic, which, according to legend, bears the likeness of the Face of Jesus not made by human hand The Veil of Veronica, or Sudarium (Latin for sweat-cloth),...
of the face of Jesus.
17. Tres Marías (The Three Marys)- each Mary holds an attribute associated with her:
a. Santa Maria Magdalena (St. Mary Magdalene) - a bottle of perfume;
b. The Virgin Mary - a handkerchief;
c. Mary, the mother of James - a bottle of oil.
18. Marian - each figure in this group alludes to a title of the Virgin Mary or to a figure associated with her.
a. "A-V-E--M-A-R-I-A" - eight "angels": girls all wearing long white dresses and wings- each holding a letter from the word "AVE MARIA."
b. Divina Pastora (Divine Shepherdess) - a shepherd's staff.
c. Reyna de los Angeles(Queen of Angels)- bouquet of white flowers, escorted by angels.
d. Luklukan ng Karunungan (Seat of Wisdom)- a Bible.
e. Susi ng Langit (Key of Heaven)- a key.
f. Reyna de las Estrellas (Queen of the Stars) - a wand with a star.
g. Rosa Mystica (Mystical Rose)- a bouquet of roses.
h. Puso ni Maria/ Corazon de Maria (Heart of Mary)- a pink heart.
i. Santo Rosario (Holy Rosary)- she carries a big rosary.
j. Buwan (Moon)- she represents the moon, as the throne of the Virgin Mary.
k. Reyna Candelaria (Queen of Candles)- she carries a long lit candle.
l. Reyna de la Paz (Queen of Peace) - a dove.
m. Reyna de los Profetas (Queen of the Prophets)- an hourglass.
n. Reyna del Cielo (Queen of Heaven
Queen of Heaven
Queen of Heaven is a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Christians, mainly of the Roman Catholic Church, and also, to some extent, in the Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox churches, to whom the title is a consequence of the Council of Ephesus in the fifth century, where the Virgin...
)- a flower; accompanied by two little "angels".
o. Reyna de las Vírgenes (Queen of the Virgins) - a rosary
Rosary
The rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
(or a lily); also escorted by two little "angels".
p. Reyna de las Flores (Queen of the Flowers) - The queen of Flores de Mayo. She carries a bouquet of flowers.
18. Reyna Elena (Queen Helena
Helena of Constantinople
Saint Helena also known as Saint Helen, Helena Augusta or Helena of Constantinople was the consort of Emperor Constantius, and the mother of Emperor Constantine I...
) - the last member of the procession, she represents Helena of Constantinople who found the True Cross
True Cross
The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a...
; this is alluded to by her attribute, a small cross or crucifix
Crucifix
A crucifix is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus , as distinct from a cross with no body....
that she carries in her arms. This considerably prestigious role is usually awarded to the most beautiful girl participating in the pageant. In some communities, the identity of the woman who will portray the Reyna Elena is kept a secret until the day of the procession. In the Santacruzan, there are three Reyna Elenas.
a. Constantíno - the escort of Reyna Elena III; traditionally a young boy representing the Emperor Constantine.
19. Reyna Emperatriz- (Queen Empress)- she is the mother of Reyna Elena. She wears a long red or white gown woth a cape and carries a scepter.
The procession is accompanied by the steady beat of the rondalla
Rondalla
The rondalla is an ensemble of stringed instruments played with the plectrum or pick and generally known as plectrum instruments. It originated in Medieval Spain, especially in Catalunya, Aragon, Murcia, and Valencia...
, playing and singing the Hail Mary
Hail Mary
The Angelic Salutation, Hail Mary, or Ave Maria is a traditional biblical Catholic prayer asking for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Hail Mary is used within the Catholic Church, and it forms the basis of the Rosary...
("Dios Te Salve"). The devotees walking with the procession hold lighted candles in their hands and sing the prayer as they go along.
Dios Te Salve (Hail Mary)
Dios te salve Maria
Llena eres de gracia
El senor es contigo
Bendita tu eres
Entre todas las mujeres
Y bendito es el fruto
Y bendito es el fruto
De tu vientre Jesus.
Santa Maria Madre de Dios
Ruega por nosotros
Pecadores ahora
Y en la hora
De nuestra muerte amen. Jesus.
After the procession, there is a pabítin that serves as a culminating activity for all the children to enjoy. A Pabítin is a square trellis to which goodies (candies, fruits, small trinkets, etc.) are tied with strings. This trellis in turn is tied to a rope and is suspended on a strong branch or pole. Children then gather under the trellis as the it is slowly lowered. They then jump as high as they can to try to pick the goodies while someone jerks it up and down repeatedly until all the goodies are gone.
It is customary for males attending the Santacruzan wear the traditional Barong Tagalog
Barong Tagalog
The barong Tagalog is an embroidered formal garment of the Philippines. It is very lightweight and worn untucked , over an undershirt. In Filipino culture it is a common wedding and formal attire, mostly for men but also for women...
and that the females wear any Filipiniana-inspired dress.