Flores de Mayo / Santacruzan

Nationwide
May

The Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May), is a religious celebration in May offering flowers to give thanks to God and to the Virgin Mary for the rains that begin to bless the land.

The Santacruzan is a parade of the town's loveliest ladies, depicting the search and discovery of Christ's Cross by Queen Helena and Constantine.

Flores de Mayo/Santacruzan (Philippine-Tourism.Biz)
Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May), a month-long religious celebration in May is a big event for many Philipine cities and towns. Traditionally, it is a way to give thanks to God and to the Virgin Mary for the rains that begin to bless the land and cause the flowers to bloom. Churches are usually filled with flowers in the aisles and alter since people give them as thanksgiving offerings.
Flores de Mayo (Wikipedia)
Flores de Mayo is a Catholic festival held in the Philippines in the month of May. It lasts for a month, and is held in honor of the Virgin Mary. The Santa Cruzan is a parade held on the last day of Flores de Mayo in honor of Reyna Elena.
Flores de Mayo at Santacruzan
Flores, from Spanish flores or "flowers," also known as Flores de Mayo (flowers of May), Flores de Maria (flowers of Mary) or alay (offering), may refer to the whole Flower Festival celebrated in the month of May in honor of the Virgin Mary . In the Tagalog region, this custom and celebration started after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 and after the publication circa 1867 of Mariano Sevilla's translation of the devotional Flores de Maria or Mariquit na Bulaclac na sa Pagninilaynilay sa Buong Buan nang Mayo ay Inihahandog nang manga Devoto cay Maria Santisima (The Flowers of Mary or the Beautiful Flowers that in the Meditations During the Whole Month of May are Offered by Devotees to Mary the Holiest). A Santacruzan is a religious-historical beauty pagent held in many cities, towns and even smll villages throughout the Philippines during the month of May. One of the most colorful May-time festivals in the Philippines which depicts the finding of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. Many movie and television personalities participate in the events and are featured as major sagalas and escorts.
Fiesta Islands - Flores de Mayo / Santa Cruzan
May is considered a flower festivalmonth in honor of the Virgin Mary thus named Flores de Mayo. Children of varying ages and adults as well offer flowers to the Virgin Mary every afternoon. Flores de Mayo starts with gospel reading and sharing. Little children in agnelic costumes carry sticks with letters forming AVE MARIA on it.
Santacruzan Flores de Mayo Festival Philippines
Santacruzan is held annually in the warm month of May and is considered to be the "Queen of Filipino Festivals". Beautiful town belles are selected to participate in this colorful pageant parade. The stars are selected not for their looks alone, but for their embodiment of traditional feminine qualities. It is a week-long street pageant in almost every town; from the dirt road barrio to the metropolis honoring beautiful Philippine maidens and their handsome escorts under the hand-carried bamboo arc’s decorated by fragrant native flowers.
Flores de Mayo and Santa Cruzan
Flores de Mayo s a Catholic festival introduced by the Spaniards. The last day of the festival is highlighted by a pageant called Santa Cruzan. The Santa Cruzan is a procession in honour of the finding of the Holy Cross in the year 326 A.D. by Reyna (Queen) Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great. It was the wooden, Holy Cross, on which Jesus Christ was supposed to have been nailed. Long time ago Flores de Mayo and the Santa Cruzan were blended together in one festival.
Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May)
When the rains begin to pour after a long dry spell, flowers magically bloom overnight. And being predominantly Catholic, the Filipinos celebrate the beneficial rains by giving praise to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The townfolk gather the colorful flowers to decorate the Parish Church altars and aisles. They bundle the blooms in exotic arrangements for the many different festivities all together referred to as the "Flores De Mayo" (Flowers of May).
The gorgeous belles of Manila's Flores de Mayo Festival
Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May) is a colorful celebration during the month of May to honor the Virgin Mary. It's highlight is the Santacruzan, a parade participated by beautiful women who are elegantly attired for the occasion. They are called sagalas.
Flores de Mayo (Whatsonwhen)
Flowers like ylang-ylang, hibiscus and sampaguitas are strewn around Manila by young girls in white during the city's Flores de Mayo festival, a month-long event that celebrates virginal virtues and serves as a rite of passage for Filipino youth.
Flores De Mayo (Flowers of May)
Many towns celebrate Flores De Mayo with the community congregating in the afternoons to pray the rosary, offer flowers to the Virgin Mary, and share homemade delicacies and snacks. Children and adults wearing their Sunday best, sing and dance to welcome the rains that will water the new crops.

Source: Filipino.biz.ph