Nuestra Senora de Las Flores
Nuestra Senora de Las Flores
Nuestra Senora de Las Flores
May is the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Christ. Filipinos turn each
of the 31 days in May into a charming honor to the virginal virtues in Flores de Mayo, the flowers
of May fiesta. Every day in May, people , with bouquet and basket of flowers in hand, march down
the church center aisle, sing hymns, and leave their flowers in front of Virgin Mary. This custom
is called alay sa Birhen ( offering to the Virgin). In the Philippines, the month of May is one of the
merriest month in the year. Aside from being known as the ‘Fiesta Month’, May is also known as
the ‘Flores de Mayo Month’. Flores de Mayo is the Spanish term for ‘Flowers of May’. It is a
Filipino celebration held in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the most beautiful flower of May.
In contrary to what most of the Filipinos know, Flores de Mayo IS DIFFERENT from Santacruzan.
Flores de Mayo is a celebration in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary while Santacruzan is the
commemoration of the finding of the true cross by Saint Helen the Empress and her son Emperor
Constantine. Usually, the Flores de Mayo is a month long celebration and ends up with the grand
sagalahan. On the other hand, Santacruzan is just a one day celebration. Some places celebrate it
either on the first day of may, May 3- the feast of the finding of the true cross, May 4- the liturgical
feast of Saint Helen the Empress or during the last day of the month. antacruzan is a celebration
commemorating the finding of the true cross. This celebration lasts only for one day.
Santacruzan is somehow similar to Flores de Mayo thus, this is the reason why many are
confused with Flores de mayo and Santacruzan and some even think that both events are just the
same. The highlight of this occasion is the evening procession. Although young ladies also join
the evening procession, a major difference of this event from Flores de Mayo is they carry a titles
of queens and female characters in the old and new testament. Oftentimes, the titles used during
Santacruzan are Reina Judith, Reina Sheba, Reina Esther, La Samaritana and the Tres Marias
(Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany and Mary Mother of James). They are also accompanied by
male consorts. The last lady in the procession carries the title Reina Elena. She is representing
Saint Helen the Empress and oftentimes, she is accompanied by a young boy representing Emperor
Constantine.
As stated before, Flores de Mayo is a month-long festival. Its activities include the daily offering
of flowers to the Reina de las Flores, praying of the rosario cantada, daily celebration of masses
and a 9-day novena. While most parishes do the grand sagalahan on the last day of the month,
some do it on May 1st to give way to other May fiestas or during the last Sunday of May. During
the sagalahan, chosen young ladies dressed to the nines join the evening procession under the titles
of the blessed virgin mary according to the Litany of Loreto. These titles include Regina Pacis,
Regina Martyrum, Regina Confessorum, Regina Patriarcarum, Regina Scrantisimi Rosarii, etc.
They walk along the streets alone without the presence of male consorts. The finale and the ‘queen’
of the ladies is the Rosa Mystica. The title Reina de las Flores is reserved to the image of the
Blessed Virgin Mary; the same image used during the daily floral offering. Nowadays, some
parishes called this event Flores de Maria where plenty marian images join the said procession
aside from the Reina de las Flores.
First of all, I love flowers so when I saw Nuestra Senora de las Flores I was amazed because
her dress was very beautiful and the flowers as well. I am not familiar with saints and the months
we celebrate them but after knowing that May is the flower month, I will now always remember
that this is the month we dedicate to Blessed Virgin Mary. We celebrate Santacruzan every May
that tells a story about the true cross by Saint Helen the Empress and her son Emperor Constantine.
Before doing this research, I thought that Santacruzan was just a tradition and it mean nothing else
but just a normal parade and contest. I learned and realized a lot of things while doing this research
about Nuestra Senora de las Flores.I would love to offer flowers to Virgin Mary when the month
of May approaches.