The Santacruzan (from the
Spanishsanta 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.[citation needed]
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 in 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 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 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 Pena 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 its 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 the Filipino-Chinese in Manila's Binondo district.
Biblical and Historical Figures, with Traditional Personifications
Matusalén (
Methuselah) – This Biblical figure is 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, however, show 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, or as 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 to the arrival today’s
Austronesian majority population. She sometimes carries the
Philippine Flag, as part of the
colour guard.
Reina Mora (Queen Moor) – 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. This participant is usually dressed in clothing inspired by various Filipino Muslim ethnic groups, sometimes collectively termed Bangsamoro.
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 Santacruzan because the Legenda Aurea narrates how she stopped along a bridge she was crossing, and on bended knee venerated a beam that 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 Naomi by another woman.
Reina Judith (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 carries 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.
(Reina) Samaritana/Santa Photina (The Female Samaritan) – She represents
the Samaritan woman at the well (named in Greek tradition as Φωτεινή Photini), whom Christ preached to about the
Water of Life. She carries a water jug.
Santa Verónica/Reina Verónica – She represents the
woman who wiped the face of Jesus who bears her
Veil. As is common in traditional Hispanic-Filipino iconography, her Veil has a miraculous triple imprint of the
Holy Face of Jesus instead of one.
Tres Marías (
Three Marys) – Each represents a Mary from among Jesus’ followers, and has an item associated with
His Entombment:
Santa María Magdalena/Reina María Magdalena (
Mary Magdalene) – She bears a perfume bottle, as Catholic tradition once conflated her with
Mary of Bethany, and the woman who
anointed and wiped Jesus' feet. As an
Myrrhbearer and first witness to the
Resurrection, she was declared Apostola Apostolorum (“Apostle to the Apostles”) by the Church in 2016, with her memorial raised to the rank of feast.
Santa María Cleofe/Reina María Cleofe (
Mary, the mother of James, wife of
Clopas) – She bears a whisk broom, as tradition holds she swept clean the
Holy Sepulchre before Christ was laid in it.
Santa María Salome/Reina María Salome (
Mary Salome) – She bears a
thurible or bottle, pointing to her role as one of the
Myrrhbearers.
Reina Fé (Queen Faith) – She represents Faith, the first
theological virtue, and carries a cross or crucifix.
Reina Esperanza (Queen Hope) – She represents Hope, the second theological virtue, and carries an anchor.
Reina Caridad (Queen Charity) – She represents Charity, the third and chief of the theological virtues, and carries a red heart or an image of the
Sacred Heart.
Reina Sentenciada (Queen Convicted) – She represents
Early Christians, particularly virgins, who were
persecuted and
martyred for the Faith. With hands Boi together using ropes or metal chains, she is sometimes escorted by two Roman soldiers.
Marian Titles
Each figure in this group refers to a title of the Virgin Mary in the
Litany of Loreto, or a figure associated with her. They are preceded by eight girls or women, dressed in white gowns as angels, each holding a letter of the
Angelical salutation “Ave Maria”.
Reina Abogada (Queen Advocate/Lawyer) – Defender of the poor and oppressed, she wears a black
mortarboard cap and
graduation gown, and carries a large book. She is a representation of
Mary, Help (Advocate) of Christians. Some processions add Reina Doctora (Queen Doctor) as another title linked with a degree, and alludes to the Virgin’s intercession for the sick under various titles.
Reina Justícia (Queen Justice) – She is a representation of the title "Mirror of Justice" (Speculum Iustitiæ), whose attributes are the
scales of Justice and a sword.
Divina Pastora (Divine Shepherdess) – She bears a
shepherd's crook or an image of a lamb. She represents her care for Christians as the flock of her Son, Jesus.
Reina de los Ángeles (Queen of Angels) – Representing the title Regina Angelorum, she has a bouquet or garland of white or coloured flowers, and is escorted by ladies in white, representing the
Bodiless Powers.
Luklukan ng Karunungan/Asiento de la Sabiduría (
Seat of Wisdom) – She represents the title Sedes Sapientiæ, and carries the
Holy Bible.
Susì ng Langit/Clavé del Cielo (Key of Heaven) – She bears two keys, one gold and the other silver, adapted from the
Papal arms. She also represents the title Porta Cœli (“Gate of Heaven”).
Reina de las Estrellas (Queen of the Stars) – She holds a
wand or staff topped with a star. It can allude to Stella Maris (“Star of the Sea”), a title of Mary often invoked by seafarers.
Rosa Mística (
Mystical Rose) – She bears a bouquet or garland of roses, a single rose, or preferably, the Barra Alta.
Reina del Santísimo Rosario (Queen of the
Most Holy Rosary) – She represents the title Regina Sacratissimi Rosarii and so carries a large set of
rosary beads. The
Philippines is sometimes called Pueblo Amante de María (“People Who Love Mary”) due to the many fervent and varied devotions to the
Mother of God.
Reina Luna (Queen Moon) – She represents the
moon, the
footstool of Mary as the
Woman of the Apocalypse. She carries a wand or staff topped with a crescent
moon.
Reina de los Patriarcas (Queen of Patriarchs) – She represents the title Regina Patriarcharum, and bears the wooden staff of authority commonly held by the
Patriarchs, ancestors of Israelites.
Reina de las Profetas (Queen of Prophets) – She represents the title Regina Prophetarum, and holds an
hourglass or
clock symbolic of
Time: past, present, and future. It also alludes to Mary’s role in bearing Christ as fulfilling Old Testament prophecies, especially
Isaiah 7:14 on
Immanuel, and God's words to
Eve and the Serpent in
Genesis 3:15.
Reina de los Mártires (Queen of Martyrs) – She represents the title Regina Martyrum, and bears the
Crown of Thorns or a pierced heart, as a second manifestation of the Mater Dolorosa. She stands for the Martyrs, those killed In odium Fidei (“In hatred of the Faith”).
Reina de los Apóstoles (Queen of Apostles) – She represents the title Regina Apostolorum, and holds the
Palm of Martyrdom, an originally Roman symbol of victory now given to those who heroically died rather than renounce Christ. Mary, understood to be Jesus’ first disciple, is also honoured by His other chief disciples, the
Apostles.
Reina de los Santos (Queen of Saints) – She represents the title Regina Omnium Sanctorum, and bears a golden wreath symbolising the
Crown of the Saints. She is often escorted by two more ladies in white, standing in for
All Saints.
Reina del Cielo (
Queen of Heaven) – She holds a flower, and is often accompanied by two ladies dressed in white.
Reina de las Vírgenes (Queen of Virgins) – She carries a rosary or
lily, the latter signifying
chastity. She is also escorted by two ladies dressed in white, symbolising
Virgins in general,
martyred and
consecrated.
Prominent titles
1. Reina de las Flores (Queen of Flowers) – She is considered Queen of the religious pageant. She processes under an arch festooned with flowers, and carries a grand bouquet.
2. Reina Elena (Queen Helena) – She represents Saint Helena herself, and holds a cross or
crucifix to symbolise the True Cross of Jesus. This considerably prestigious role is often awarded to the most beautiful girl or most important matron of the pageant. Some communities keep secret the identity of a Reina Elena until the Santacruzan itself. Other places allow more than one woman this normally singular honour.
Constantino – the traditional escort of the Reina Elena, representing the historical figure’s son,
Constantine the Great (272–337 AD). Despite the Emperor having been an adult at the finding of the True Cross, this role is almost always for a boy or adolescent youth (rarely a grown man). He is often dressed formally or as a king, wearing a crown or
coronet and bearing a sword.
3. Reina Emperatríz (Queen
Empress) – Always the last member of the procession, she is symbolic of Saint Helena’s title Augusta ('empress' or 'queen mother'), which she received from Constantine in 325 AD. A theory for two representations of the saintly Empress is that several women wanted the role, and this secondary manifestation was created to accommodate them.
The procession is accompanied by a local brass band, playing the Dios te salve (a Spanish setting of the
Hail Mary). Devotees bear lighted candles and sing the hymn as they walk. In more modern arrangements, a speaker truck is used to broadcast this and other hymns. It is customary for participating males not in costume to wear traditional
Barong Tagalog or Western-style formal wear, while females wear any Filipiniana-inspired dress or designer outfits.