Flores de Mayo (Spanish for "flowers of May") is a festival held in the Philippines in the month of May. It is one of the May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary and lasts for the entire month. The Santacruzan (from the Spanish santa 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.

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:

Additional titles (Pamayanan or communities)

Each figure in this group refers to a Marian apparition, popular title (unless mentioned below) or Marian dogma.

Biblical and Historical Figures, with Traditional Personifications

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”.

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.
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.