May is the Month of Flowers; Of Fiestas

May is the month of flowers in the Philippines. Maybe because it is during this time of the year, many ornamental plants bear flowers.

Presumably it is also because people plant ornamentals or trees that bear flowers during long days, or when the daylight is longer than night time. They are called long day plants (LDP), while the other plants are called short day plants, or plants that bear flowers or fruits during shorter days, or when night time is shorter than daytime.

I have a plant at home, the yellow bell, which bears beautiful yellow flowers in clusters during summer. It started to bloom last week. I also have orchids, a violet one, which also bear more flowers during summer. But it also bear flowers during months with shorter days and longer nights. It is usually in November to February. The sun sets earlier than usual, and rises later also.

Catholics in our country regard May as month of flowers which is usually offered to the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. Ladies and children carry flowers to the church usually in the evening. A ceremony is being held were each pair of ladies or with their male partners go to the altar to put flowers below the Virgin Mary’s image. This is done while all the people in the church are chanting or singing songs that pertains to deep adoration for the Virgin Mary.

After the ceremony, the sponsor for the day, or the so-called “Hermano” for male, or “Hermana” for female sponsor, distributes food to the children and to all the people in the church. The food are simple, like snacks, candies, or biscuits. Children love to attend the nightly ceremony because they can get free food.

The nightly floral offering to the Virgin Mary, or the so-called “Flores de Mayo” (Flowers of May), culminates with the fiesta of the place. It is when the statue of the Virgin Mary is carried by several men, or they pull the carriage or platform where the statue stands. Sometimes the platform is placed on top of a vehicle, so there is no need for the men to carry the platform.

The procession is also joined by the local ladies who are dressed as Queens. They have their male escorts who carry lantern or candles to light their path. The main attraction in the procession called Santacruzan (Cross) is the most beautiful of all the ladies in the place, and she is called “Queen Helena.” or Reyna Elena in the vernacular (Filipino language).

Reyna Elena personifies Queen Helena, later St. Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, who searched for the true Cross where Jesus Christ was crucified. So the Reyna Elena during the Filipino Santacruzan walks with a little boy, depicting Constantine the Great, who carries a small wooden cross.

After the procession, which passes through main roads of a place, they go back to the church where floral offerings are done again, along with prayers.

The religious ceremony is followed by a program done outside the church, usually in the plaza or public park where people are entertained by singers, dancers, or other entertainers, usually people from the entertainment industry. This is the most awaited portion of the people in their fiesta.

Aside from guest entertainers, there are also contests for the young and old people, like singing contest, etc. There are also games for the children where the winners are given cash or gift items.

Many towns, cities, or rural barangays celebrate fiestas during May.