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Flores de Mayo in Manila is a month long festival in honor of Mother Mary. The
Manila Flores de Mayo was introduced by the Spaniards and reflects the cultural
exchange that took place in the country during the three century long colonization.
The Flores de Mayo believed to have started in 1854 in honor of Mother Mary
and has many variations. The devotion has taken several forms and rituals .
One such customary form is the offering of flowers in the whole of month of
May. The offering of flowers begins in the afternoon and this is after the prayers
to the Mother. On the last Sunday of May the Mary's caroza is fetched from the
hermana's house and escorted to the church. The procession begins on Sunday
night and is really grand.
A daylong celebration ,the statues of the Virgin Mary are dressed and paraded
through the streets and also lined by a variety of food items. Also the last
day of the Flores de Mayo is highlighted by a pageant called Santa Cruzan. The
Santa Cruzan is a procession that is in remembrance of the Holy Cross that was
found in 326 A.D. by Queen Helena- mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine.
It was several years ago that the Flores de Mayo and the Santa Cruzan were celebrated
together. A little boy who represents King Constantine also highlights the traditional
festival.
During the Flores de Mayo young ladies are dressed in beautiful attire in white
honor the image of Mother Mary and sing songs celebrating the innocence and
purity of. While on the other hand the on Santa Cruzan young ladies are escorted
by young men and parade through the town or village on the first Saturday of
each May.
AsiaRooms provides information on Flores de Mayo, Manila and for further information
check the other web links of AsiaRooms
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