Ang Flores De Mayo (Flowers of May) ay isang pistahang pang-Katoliko na
ginaganap sa buwan ng Mayo. Ito ay isinasagawa in honor of the Virgin
Mary. Ang Santa Cruzan naman (a.k.a. Parada ng Lechon sa ibang
lugar) ay ang parada na ginaganap sa huling araw ng Flores De Mayo
in honor of Reyna Elena. Siyam na araw ng novena in honor of the Holy Cross ang ginagawa bago ang Santa Cruzan. Ang kaugaliang ito ay nagmula pa sa mga Kastila na sumakop sa Pilipinas noong araw. 
Ang Santa Cruzan, bukod sa parada, ay ang pag-alala sa paghahanap ng Holy Cross ni Queen Helena o Reyna Elena kasama ang kanyang anak at bagong Emperor na si Constantine. Matapos na matagpuan ang Holy Cross sa Jerusalem at madala pabalik sa Roma ay nagkaraoon ng selebrasyon at pagpapasalamat.
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). http://www.filipino.com.au/categ/culture/floresdemayo.htm
Narito ang pagkakasunod sunod ng mga tauhan sa parada: 1. Methuselah - he is bearded, bent with age, riding a cart looking
preoccupied with toasting some grains of sand in a pan over a fire.
This is a reminder that all that glitters will end up as dust like what
he is toasting.
2. Reyna Banderada - a young lady dressed in a long red gown
carrying a yellow triangular flag. She represents the coming of
Christianity.
3. Aetas - represent the state of the country before the coming of Christianity. These are the unconverted Filipino pagans.
4. Reyna Mora - represents the dominant religion before Christianity (feminine of Moro from the Moslem religion).
5. Reyna Fe - symbolizes the virtue of faith - the first of the theological virtues. She carries a cross.
6. Reyna Esperanza - symbolizes the virtue of hope - the second theological virtue. She carries an anchor.
7. Reyna Caridad - symbolizes the virtue of charity - the third theological virtue. She carries a red heart.
8. Reyna Abogada - the defender of the poor and the oppressed. She
wears a black graduation cap (toga) and gown and she carries a big book.
9. Reyna Sentenciada - has her slim hands bound by a rope. She is
the symbol of the innocents who have been convicted. She is accompanied
by two Roman soldiers.
10. Reyna Justicia - a personification of the "mirror of justice". She carries a weighing scale and a sword.
11. Reyna Judith - representing Judith of Pethulia who saved her
city from the Assyrians after she beheaded the cruel holoferns. She
carries the head of the beheaded man on one hand and a sword on the
other.
12. Reyna Sheba - who visited the famed King Solomon and was
overwhelmed by his wisdom, power and richess. She carries a jewelry box.
13. Reyna Esther - the biblical Jewish who spared her countrymen
from death and destruction through timely intervention with the King
Xerxes. She carries a scepter.
14. Samaritana - the woman who Christ spoke to at the well. She carries a jug on her shoulder.
15. Veronica - the woman who wiped the face of Jesus. She carries a bandana imprinted with the three faces of Jesus.
16. Tres Marias: Mary of Magdala - she carries a bottle of perfume;
Mary, Mother of Christ - she carries a handkerchief; Mary, mother of
James - she carries a bottle of oil.
17. Marian - celebrating the many titles of the Virgin Mary.
a. A-v-e--M-a-r-i-a -- represented by eight (8) girls all Wearing
long white dressess with wings to make them look like angels. Each one
carries a letter to complete the word "AVE MARIA." b. Divina pastora (Divine Shepherdess) - she carries a shepherdess' staff. c. Reyna de las Estrellas (Queen of Stars) - she carries a wand with a star. d. Rosa Mystica - she carries a bouquet of roses. e. Reyna Paz (queen of peace) - she carries the symbol of peace. f. Reyna de las Propetas - she carries a hour glass. g. Reyna del
Cielo (Queen of Heaven) she carries a flower. She has two (2) angels. h. Reyna de las Virgines - she carries a rosary and is surrounded by two (2) little angels. i. Reyna de las Flores (Queen of Flowers) - she carries a bouquet of
flowers. 
18. Reyna Elena (Queen Helena) - the legendary founder of the
true Cross, represented by the small cross she carries. Sa taas ang picture ng Reyna Elena sa aming barangay this year. Nagtatago pa mahiyain kasi...anyway balik tayo sa kwento... She is escorted
by her son, Constantine. The procession is followed by the steady beat
of rondalla, playing and singing "Dios Te Salve". The devotees walking
with the procession hold lighted candles in their hands and singing the
prayer: Dios Te Salve (Hail Mary) Dios te salve Maria Llena eres de gracia El senor es contigo Bendita
tu eres Entre todas las mujeres Y bendito es el fruto Y bendito es el
fruto De tu vientre Jesus. Santa Maria Madre de Dios Ruega por nosotros Pecadores ahora Y en la hora De nuestra muerte amen. Je Matapos ang parada ay may pabitin para sa mga bata. Ang pabitin ay isang hugis parisukat na trellis (di ko alam sa tagalog eh hehe...eto ang definition--> Latticework used to support climbing plants) na kung saan ay may mga nakasabit na mga regalo, laruan, candies, prutas, junk foods, atbp. Nakasabit ito sa isang sanga ng punung-kahoy o sa isang poste na pinapataas at pinabababa sa pamamagitan ng paghila sa lubid. Ang mga bata (at isip bata) ay nagpapataasan ng pagtalon upang makakuha ng kung anuman ang nasa pabitin habang ang lakas tamang taga-hila ng lubid ay ginagawa ang lahat para mapatagal ang pabitin niya. Taon taon ay sinusurpresa ng mga tagapangasiwa ng Santa Cruzan ang mapipiling Reyna Elena para raw mas exciting.
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