Flores de Mayo (Spanish for "flowers of May") is a festival held in the Philippines in the month of May. It is one of the May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary and lasts for the entire month.
The Santacruzan (from the Spanish santa cruz, "holy cross") is the ritual pageant held on the last day of the Flores de Mayo. It honours the finding of the True Cross by Helena of Constantinople (known as Reyna Elena) and Constantine the Great. Its connection with May stems from the May 3 date of Roodmas, which Pope John XXIII deleted in the 1960s due to the trend at the time to abolish holy days that were either duplicates or dedicated to ahistorical saints. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross on September 14, which commemorates the recovery of the relic by Emperor Heraclius from the Persians instead of the finding by Saint Helena combines that occasion with Roodmas in the present General Roman Calendar.
Etymology The name of the festival is derived from the Spanish language word flores meaning "flowers." Other names are "Flores de María" ("Flowers of Mary") and "Álay" (Filipino for "offering").
In the Bicolandia In the Bicol Region, the ritual begins with the recitation of the rosary, and the last day is simply called the "katapusan" which is marked with a Mass, a Santacruzan and procession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The traditional "Martía" with its respective meaning is said after the recitation of the Salve Regina in Spanish and the Litany of Loreto. After the ceremony, simple snacks are given to the children attending. Alabasyón (from the Spanish for "praising") is the term for prayers sung in honour of the Holy Cross.
In Western and in some parts of Eastern Visayas The towns particularly in Iloilo has their respective puroks or streets and the barangays which has their respective chapel or house of prayer or even in the church where an image of the Virgin Mary is venerated and children gathers to have a simple catechism and teachings about the life and story of Mary, history of Marian apparitions, Christian doctrines and values, holistic values and virtues and other life's teachings. They were also taught some prayers and some songs uniquely recited only during the Flores de Mayo and the children offer some flowers before the image of the Virgin Mary as a symbol of love, affection and veneration. This is a commemoration and reminiscent of the Our Lady of Fatima apparition to the three children which first took place on May 13, 1917. After a while, they were offered some snacks.
Some churches and areas are giving children some paper tickets for actively participating and doing well during the catechism in which at the end of the month of May which also coincides with the end of the Flores de Mayo, the children redeem the value of the tickets which are school supplies ready for the school opening. Until 2019, this was in June, the supplies are brought currently in August or September beginning 2020, depending on the date set by the Department of Education. With the switch of the calendar, the paper ticket tradition among these children also mark one of the final salvos of the school year. Santacruzan is usually held during the last few days of May to coincide with the end of the catechism for children.
In the Katagalugan Amongst the Tagalog people, the custom began after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 and after the circa 1867 publication of Mariano Sevilla's translation of the devotional "Flores de María" ("Flowers of Mary"), also known by its longer title "Mariquít na Bulaclac nasa Pagninilaynilay sa Buong Buannang Mayo ay Inihahandog nañg mañga Devoto cay María Santísima" ("Beautiful Flowers that in the Meditations in the Whole Month of May are Presented by Devotees to Mary Most Holy").
One famous May tradition in Batangas (particularly in Lipa) is the Luglugan, or nightly devotion and party honouring the Virgin Mary. Held in structures called tuklóng, devotees offer flowers and prayers to an image of Mary every night. After the prayer, the Hermanos or Hermanas for the day will give away treats to the participants, followed by the party. The Luglugan lasts for a month until the Tapusan ("ending") which is marked with a Mass, a Santacruzan and procession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and capped with a final Luglugan that lasts until the following morning.
The Santacruzan
A Santacruzan 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 colorful aspects of this festival, the pageant depicts the finding of the True Cross by Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. Many movie and television personalities participate in the events and are featured in major santacruzan. This festival became 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 (H)Elena and her son, Emperor Constantine. It is said to have roots in the joyous thanksgiving celebrations that followed the finding of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem and its translation to Constantinople (now Istanbul).
General order of the procession The participants of this procession would follow this typical arrangement: The Cross or the Image of Saint Helena with the Cross is used for Santa Cruzan, while the Image of Blessed Mother is used for Flores de Mayo that is the distinction of the two festivals but some organizers mixed the two festivals together in one celebration, Flores and Santa Cruzan.
Additional titles (Pamayanan or communities) Each figure in this group refers to a Marian apparition, popular title (unless mentioned below) or Marian dogma.
Pamayanan Inmaculada – She is the representation of the Immaculate Conception, principal protectress of the republic. Also known as "Pamayanang Caysaysay" because of the related title Our Lady of Caysasay. Pamayanan La Naval – She is the representation of Our Lady of the Rosary. Often, she carries a rosary. She is included in the Santacruzan because of her title Queen of the Holy Rosary, and because of the miraculous story of the victory of the Catholics over the Turkish Muslims in the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571, and the Victory of the Filipinos and Spaniards over the Dutch on the Battle of La Naval de Manila from March 15, 1646 – October 4, 1646. Also known as "Pamayanang Manaoag" and "Pamayanang Piat" because of the related titles Our Lady of Manaoag and Our Lady of Piat. Pamayanan Asunción – She is the representation of the Assumption of Mary. Pamayanan Del Carmen – She is the representation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel who appeared to Saint Simon Stock in Mount Carmel in Palestine on July 16, 1251. She carries the scapular of Mount Carmel. She is the first ever title in the Santacruzan, named after Our Lady of Mount Carmel, who kept the promise of the Brown scapular, saying "Whosoever dies, vested in this scapular, shall never suffer fires of hell". Also known in Cebu as "Pamayanang La Limpia". Pamayanan Dela Paz – She is the representation of Our Lady of Peace. She carries a dove and is included in the Santacruzan Because of her sister title, Queen of Peace. She is also known as "Pamayanang EDSA" in honour of the EDSA Shrine and the historic EDSA Revolution and "Pamanayang Antipolo" because of the related title Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. Pamayanan Fátima – She is the representation of Our Lady of Fátima who appeared to three children of Fátima, Portugal, namely Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto, and Venerable Sister Lúcia on May 13, 1917. She carries a rosary or wears a crucifix necklace. Pamayanan Lourdes – She is the representation of Our Lady of Lourdes who appeared to Saint Bernadette Soubirous on February 11, 1858. She carries a large rosary. Pamayanang Guadalupe – She is the representation of Our Lady of Guadalupe who Appeared to Saint Juan Diego on December 9, 1531. Often, her outfit includes native designs as she is the country's secondary patroness. Pamayanang Peña de Francia/Peñafrancia – She represents Our Lady of Peñafrancia who appeared to Simón Vela on May 13, 1434, and whose devotion in the country dates from 1712. She is Patroness of the Bicol Region and hers is one of the oldest devotions in the nation. Pamayanang Perpetual Help/Prompto Soccoro – She represents Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Indirectly she honours the icon of Our Lady of Prompt Succor of Binondo, one of the first Marian devotions in the Philippines and a popular title among Chinese-Filipinos in Manila's Binondo district.
Biblical and Historical Figures, with Traditional Personifications Matusalén (Methuselah) – This Biblical figure mentioned in 1 Chronicles and the Gospel of Luke is presented as an allegory of the transience of the world, which will be like the dust he is toasting in a pan over a fire. He is often shown as bent with extreme age and riding a cart. Some renditions instead have him walking with a cane. Reina Banderada (Queen with a Banner) – She represents the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines. Often dressed in a long red gown, her traditional attribute is a yellow and/or white pennant. If part of the colour guard, she bears the modern Flag of Vatican City. Reina Aeta (Queen Aeta) – She represents the country's dark-skinned, indigenous peoples such as the Aeta and Ati. These aboriginal groups settled the islands tens of thousands of years before the advent of today's Austronesian majority population. She is sometimes bears of the Philippine Flag if part of the colour guard. Reina Mora (Queen Mooress) – She represents Muslim Filipinos, who are concentrated in Mindanao and large cities such as Manila. Islam predates Christianity in the Philippines by two centuries, and is the country's second-largest religion. Mary is honoured in Islam, and her story is found in the 19th sura (chapter) of the Qur'an. Her dress mimics those of Filipino Muslim ethnic groups, many of which identify as Bangsamoro, and sometimes she has an attitude of confusion and puzzlement at the Christian religion. Reina Juana (Queen Juana) - Representing the historical Hara Humamay, consort of Rajah Humabon, who were among the first baptized Catholics in the Philippines. She symbolises the arrival of Christianity in the islands with the First Masses held in Southern Leyte and Cebu in 1521. She is identified with her image of the Santo Niño de Cebú. Reina de Saba/Reina Sheba (Queen of Sheba) – She represents the unnamed queen who visited King Solomon, and was overwhelmed by his wisdom, power, and riches. She carries a jewellery box. She is part of the pageant as the 13th-century Legenda Aurea narrates how she stopped on a bridge she was crossing, and on bended knee venerated a beam she foretold would become part of the True Cross. Rut y Noemi/Reina Ruth at Reina Naomi (Ruth and Naomi) – She represents the Moabite convert to Judaism, together with her tragic mother-in-law from whom she was inseparable. Ruth is an ancestress of King David, and is one of four women listed in the genealogies of Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Ruth may be portrayed alone by one woman, or with another woman as Naomi. Reina Deborah (Queen Deborah) – She represents Deborah, a prophetess and the only woman among the Biblical judges. Reina Judit (Queen Judith) – She represents the Biblical widow Judith of Bethulia, who saved her city from the Assyrians by beheading their brutal general, Holofernes. Also given the Spanish title "Infanta" (“Princess”), she holds the severed head of Holofernes in one hand, and a sometimes bloodied sword in the other. Reina Esther (Queen Esther) – She represents the Jewish queen of Persia, who spared her people from genocide at the hands of Haman, the royal advisor, by timely intervention with her husband, King Xerxes. She carries a sceptre.