The Tradition of Santacruzan

In the month of May, Filipinos hold the Santacruzan. The festival comes from a religious origin, a commemoration of the finding of the Holy Cross by Saint Helena and Constantine.

Young ladies dress up in lavish gowns of lace and beads and parade on the streets, together with their escorts, in such gala wear. They walk elegantly beneath arches of flowers in a procession while throngs of people take part, holding candles and torches as they sing songs of praise.

Some people think that the Santracruzan is an obsolete ritual. But there are also those who counter that it is relevant to the Catholic faith. And more than that, they say, the practice of the Santacruzan also adds color to the people’s cultural life. The older folk would like to keep the tradition alive, as it is something that reminds them of the past cultural practices in church. Santacruzan has its rightful place in the lives of the Filipinos.

The first Santacruzan was fabulous. Movie stars from manila came to grace the affair. It was first held at the Cebu Provincial Capitol and the roads around the venue were closed from traffic. The first Reina Emperatriz of Santacruzan was Florence Chan, mother of singer Jose Mari Chan.

Most parents encourage their children to participate in the Santacruzan because they know that the activity is organized for a noble cause.

Nowadays, the reinas that compose the Santacruzan are selected from students of various schools in the city. But as to who gets the best roles in the parade depends on the number of votes she receives during the canvassing of ballots.

Despite the relatively simple Santacruzan, it’s still upholding this Maytime tradition. And for a cause.

Source from Sun*Star Weekend