flores de Mayo
May Day is here and wonder | wander | world is reminded of our Flores de Mayo and Santa Cruzan celebrations back home.
A parade of the town’s loveliest ladies dressed in their dazzling best reenact the search and discovery of Christ’s Cross by Queen Helena and Emperor Constantine in an evening procession that culminates in the town plaza in front of the main cathedral.
The towns all along the coast of Negros Island take their turn dressing up their fairest and hosting fiestas to celebrate the occasion in their own distinct style.
The children are taught special prayers and songs in catechism, which are recited only during the Flores de Mayo when they offer flowers before the image of the Virgin Mary commemorating the Holy Mother as a symbol of love, affection and veneration.
Tickets are sold by participants and their families and tallied at the end of the Flores de Mayo, the top winners get to be presented in the culminating Santa Cruzan parade and procession. The funds raised are usually donated to various church and parish projects.
May is also National Heritage Month in the Philippine Islands. This year’s theme, “Victory and Humanity: Upholding Filipino Heritage and Identity” celebrates 500 years of Spanish influence in Filipino socio-political, economic, and religious life.
Follow us on FB and IG @NegrosSeasonOfCulture and visit www.negrosseasonofculture.com for more stories about Negrense art and heritage.
Originally published at http://woaworld.blogspot.com.
