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Fiesta de las Cruces

April 13, 2024

The Fiesta de las Cruces ("Festival of the Crosses") or Cruz de Mayo ("May Cross") is a holiday celebrated on 3 May in many parts of Spain and Hispanic America.

Cross decorated at Alcalá la Real, Spain.

Origins edit

Religiously, the festival is rooted in the legendary search by Byzantine Empress Saint Helena for the cross on which Jesus died, but the popular traditions connected to the festival certainly trace back to pagan traditions brought to Spain by the Roman Empire (see May Day).

The legend is that Emperor Constantine I, in the sixth year of his reign, confronted the barbarians on the banks of the Danube, in a battle where victory was believed to be impossible because of the great size of the enemy army. One night, Constantine had a vision of a cross in the sky, and by it the words "In hoc signo vincis" (With this sign, you shall be victorious). The emperor had a cross made and put it at the front of his army, which won an easy victory over the enemy multitude. On returning to the city and learning the significance of the cross, Constantine was baptized as a Christian and gave orders to construct Christian churches. He sent his mother, Saint Helena, to Jerusalem in search of the True Cross, the cross on which Jesus died. Once there, Helena summoned the wisest priests to aid in her attempt to find the cross. On Calvary hill, traditionally considered the site of Jesus's crucifixion, she found three bloody logs hidden. In order to discover which was the True Cross, she placed the logs one by one over sick people, and even dead people, who were cured or resuscitated at the touch of the True Cross. The veneration of the True Cross, and the use of pieces of the True Cross as relics, begins at this time. Saint Helena died praying for all believers in Christ to celebrate the commemoration of the day the Cross was found.

Places where the holiday is celebrated edit

The "Fiesta de las Cruces" is celebrated in numerous places in Spain and Hispanoamerica.

Spain edit

 
Cruz de mayo de la Cuesta del Bailío, 2005, Córdoba, Spain.

Various groups of people - usually linked to the Hermandades, the religious Brotherhoods who organise the Easter Week processions, get together and decorate a tall cross with flowers.

They choose a pretty square or street, and also decorate the area around the cross with typical and traditional items. A guitar. An embroidered shawl. Old earthenware pots. Even an old-fashioned sewing machine! For the cross of the Hermandad de Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Queen of the Sea, they use fishing nets and tackle. For San Isidro the Ploughman Saint, they have crops and traditional foodstuff.

They set out these beautiful items, redolent of the past and of the traditions of the town, making an artistic display that everyone comes to admire.

Although it is normally one of the Brotherhoods decorating the crosses, it can also be a group of friends and neighbours, a youth group, a Charity, who get together to produce these lovely events.

 
Procession of the Virgin, Cruz de Mayo, Sama de Grado, Asturias, Spain.
 
Cross of the Hermandad de la Cruz de la Calle La Fuente. Rociana del Condado, Province of Huelva.

Colombia edit

The Departments of Antioquia, Caldas, Quindío, and Risaralda, and the municipality of Funza, diocese of Facatativá, have a large population of Basque descent, who carry on the tradition of the Día de la Santa Cruz ("Day of the Holy Cross") or Día de los Mil Jesuses ("Day of the Thousand Jesuses") on 3 May. People speak the name of Jesus one thousand times, and believe this will protect them through the coming year.[citation needed]

Guatemala edit

Most of Guatemala celebrates the Fiesta de las Cruces largely in a symbolic and respectful manner, with colorful processions.

The construction equipment and materials retailer FFACSA, one of Guatemala's leading businesses, sponsors a large and less traditional celebration in Chimaltenango Department. That celebration begins at 6 p.m. on 2 May with a celebration of the eucharist in honor of the Holy Cross. On 3 May people begin to gather at 3 a.m. and parade through the streets of various municipalities of the department, after which there are various sporting activities (including mountain biking and a marathon). At noon, roughly 3,000 construction workers gather for lunch at FFACSA's various branch offices (in Quetzaltenango, Sacatepéquez, Totonicapán) and at their central site in Chimaltenango. After lunch there are raffles, with prizes such as motorcycles, bicycles, televisions, DVD players, and household appliances. At 4 p.m. there is an open-air concert at the park in the center of Chimaltenango, again with raffles and prizes, and from 7 p.m. there are fireworks competitions.

Mexico edit

In Mexico, the celebration of the Holy Cross began at the dawn of the 16th century, when captain Juan de Grijalva gave the name Isla de la Santa Cruz to the island now known as Cozumel, Quintana Roo. The holiday is celebrated in Mexico mainly by guilds and unions involved in construction. A cross adorned with flowers and paper is placed in a high position on a building in the process of construction. The workers then celebrate with local cuisine and alcoholic beverages such as tequila, mezcal, and local beer.

Peru edit

Venezuela edit

  • Choroní, Aragua State has a celebration of great importance and tradition. The entire village and many visitors have a large festival on the Caribbean shore and dance to drums until dawn in honor of the Cruz de Mayo.
  • Guatire, Miranda State has had a cross as its patron since its foundation in the 17th century. The cross is known as Santa Cruz de Pacairigua, after the Pacairigua River, which runs through the city. The sculptured cross resides in the parish church of Guatire, and its festival is 3 May
  • In the east of Venezuela and in the Barlovento of Miranda vigils are held for the Cruz de Mayo in which the cross is adorned and praised with fulías and décimas.

El Salvador edit

 
A decorated cross with offerings during the Day of the Cross in El Salvador

In El Salvador, the Day of the Cross ("Día de la Cruz" in Spanish), as it is known, is celebrated on May 3. This celebration is not considered an official government or church holiday; it only marks the beginning of the "wet" or rainy season in winter. It is a tradition that dates back to prehispanic times during which the indigenous people of the region (Pipiles) offered food to give thanks to the gods and Mother Earth for what they provided. The cross was added when the tradition fused with Catholicism during the colonial period. The cross is made from wood, and decorated with flowers and long chains of colorful tissue paper. Fruits, grains, vegetables, drinks, candies and sometimes money are placed at the foot of the cross as offerings. Visitors to the household are invited to take offerings with them after they kneel in front of the cross and recite a thanksgiving prayer.

Trinidad edit

In Lopinot, Trinidad, parang is performed at the Cruz de Mayo (May Cross) festival, a ritual whose performance strongly mirrors the contemporary Santa Rosa Festival and was likely the source of its patterning. The Cruz de Mayo celebrates the month of Mary, and is also when the maypole is performed, which has even more significance for the Caribs as it was amalgamated into their traditions of weaving the sebucán, their cassava strainer (the dance around the maypole, weaving the ribbons together, is seen as mimicking the weaving of the sebucán).[3]

References edit

  1. ^ mayocordobes.es, accessed 2010-04-26.
  2. ^ Official page of Cruz de mayo de Écija, accessed 2010-04-26.
  3. ^ Review of the Indigenous Caribbean, accessed 2012-08-28.

External links edit

  • (in Spanish) Fiestas de la Santa Cruz de Feria (Badajoz), declared by the Spanish government as an event of National Touristic Interest
  • (in Spanish) , declared by the Spanish government as an event of National Touristic Interest
  • (in Spanish) Fiesta de las cruces en Torrelaguna (Community of Madrid)
  • (in Spanish)
  • (in Spanish) Cruces de Mayo de Córdoba

April 13, 2024
fiesta, cruces, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, april, 2010, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, fes. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Fiesta de las Cruces Festival of the Crosses or Cruz de Mayo May Cross is a holiday celebrated on 3 May in many parts of Spain and Hispanic America Cross decorated at Alcala la Real Spain Contents 1 Origins 2 Places where the holiday is celebrated 2 1 Spain 2 2 Colombia 2 3 Guatemala 2 4 Mexico 2 5 Peru 2 6 Venezuela 2 7 El Salvador 2 8 Trinidad 3 References 4 External linksOrigins editReligiously the festival is rooted in the legendary search by Byzantine Empress Saint Helena for the cross on which Jesus died but the popular traditions connected to the festival certainly trace back to pagan traditions brought to Spain by the Roman Empire see May Day The legend is that Emperor Constantine I in the sixth year of his reign confronted the barbarians on the banks of the Danube in a battle where victory was believed to be impossible because of the great size of the enemy army One night Constantine had a vision of a cross in the sky and by it the words In hoc signo vincis With this sign you shall be victorious The emperor had a cross made and put it at the front of his army which won an easy victory over the enemy multitude On returning to the city and learning the significance of the cross Constantine was baptized as a Christian and gave orders to construct Christian churches He sent his mother Saint Helena to Jerusalem in search of the True Cross the cross on which Jesus died Once there Helena summoned the wisest priests to aid in her attempt to find the cross On Calvary hill traditionally considered the site of Jesus s crucifixion she found three bloody logs hidden In order to discover which was the True Cross she placed the logs one by one over sick people and even dead people who were cured or resuscitated at the touch of the True Cross The veneration of the True Cross and the use of pieces of the True Cross as relics begins at this time Saint Helena died praying for all believers in Christ to celebrate the commemoration of the day the Cross was found Places where the holiday is celebrated editThe Fiesta de las Cruces is celebrated in numerous places in Spain and Hispanoamerica Spain edit nbsp Cruz de mayo de la Cuesta del Bailio 2005 Cordoba Spain Various groups of people usually linked to the Hermandades the religious Brotherhoods who organise the Easter Week processions get together and decorate a tall cross with flowers They choose a pretty square or street and also decorate the area around the cross with typical and traditional items A guitar An embroidered shawl Old earthenware pots Even an old fashioned sewing machine For the cross of the Hermandad de Nuestra Senora del Carmen Queen of the Sea they use fishing nets and tackle For San Isidro the Ploughman Saint they have crops and traditional foodstuff They set out these beautiful items redolent of the past and of the traditions of the town making an artistic display that everyone comes to admire Although it is normally one of the Brotherhoods decorating the crosses it can also be a group of friends and neighbours a youth group a Charity who get together to produce these lovely events nbsp Procession of the Virgin Cruz de Mayo Sama de Grado Asturias Spain nbsp Cross of the Hermandad de la Cruz de la Calle La Fuente Rociana del Condado Province of Huelva Aguilar de la Frontera Province of Cordoba There is a procession of Nuestra Senora de los Remedios from the Iglesia de la Veracruz Church of the True Cross in the Remedios neighborhood Aguiama La Rioja Aguilas Region of Murcia in the pedania sub municipal district of Calabardina Alboraya Province of Valencia Organized by the Junta Local de Hermandades de Semana Santa de Alboraya Local Alboraya Grouping of Brotherhoods of the Holy Week Alcala la Real Province of Jaen Alhama de Murcia Murcia Alhaurin el Grande Province of Malaga Aljucer a pedania of the city of Murcia Alicante in the Santa Cruz neighborhood Almeria throughout the historic center of the city Almonaster la Real province of Huelva Almunecar Province of Granada Armilla Province of Granada The city government organizes a competition of decorated crosses on 3 May Andosilla Province of Navarre Aranda de Duero Province of Burgos A cross is brought down from the church museum of San Juan to the Plaza Mayor main square with hundreds of people dancing behind Baza Granada Berrocal Huelva Bonares Huelva Brena Alta Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Brena Baja Santa Cruz de Tenerife Burriana Province of Castellon Cabeza la Vaca Province of Badajoz At different places around Cabeza la Vaca crosses are adorned in a variety of motifs On the night of 2 May crosses are paraded through town each accompanied by a musical group On 3 May a procession goes through the streets of the city with one primary cross representing the True Cross but also many other crosses adorned by children with flowers Cadiz Crosses with flowers are taken in procession throughout the city Also folk festivals verbenas are held in honor of the cross and many courtyards are decorated in floral motifs Cadrete Province of Zaragoza Caminreal Province of Teruel Cieza Murcia Province of Ciudad Real The festival is celebrated throughout the province In particular the celebrations at Campo de Calatrava Piedrabuena and Villanueva de los Infantes in the comarca Campo de Montiel have been declared to be of Regional Touristic Interest Coin Malaga Cordoba The Fiesta de las Cruces is combined with a festival can competition for decorated courtyards in the Real Feria de Mayo with 25 crosses and 50 patios courtyards 1 Corte de Peleas Province of Badajoz Dosbarrios Province of Toledo Ecija Province of Seville Organized by the Hermandad del Resucitado with traditional children carrying the crosses Celebrated on a Sunday 3 May or the first Sunday thereafter 2 El Madrono Seville El Viso del Alcor Seville Estepona Malaga Held on the first weekend of the month of May There are about 10 different crosses in different pretty squares of the town The Ayuntamiento Town Council awards prizes for the best decorated square and cross The idea is to go and visit them all and see if you agree with the judges As well as the decoration there is music dancing can you do flamenco barbecues and general merriment all weekend long around each cross Feria Badajoz Crosses are elaborately decorated in flowers and altars are set up in rooms throughout the city In 2008 there were more than 70 crosses Declared as of National Touristic Interest Granada One of the most beautiful of the festivals and one of the cities most prominent for its celebrations of the holiday Prizes are awarded in several categories courtyards streets and plazas windows and schools The crosses are adorned with red and white carnations and are often surrounded by artisanal handicrafts and paired with a drinks stand Granja de Rocamora Alicante Guadalcazar Cordoba in the Plaza de Espana Hellin Province of Albacete Huelva especially for the Cruz de Mayo of San Pedro Jaen L Alfas del Pi Province of Alicante La Palma del Condado Huelva Lebrija Seville Linares Jaen Lucena del Puerto Huelva Malaga Martos Jaen Mengibar Jaen Molinillo Province of Salamanca Montalban de Cordoba Cordoba Montilla Cordoba in the Barrio de La Cruz Motril Granada One of the most prominent of the festivals rivaling that of Cordoba in fervor and enthusiasm The festivities are considered of National Touristic Interest and it is considered the city s Feria Chica that is its second most important festival Murcia Region de Murcia Mutxamel Alicante Otura Granada Piedrabuena Ciudad Real Pinos del Valle Granada Celebrated 1 2 and 3 May and dedicated to Santo Cristo del Zapato Puente Genil Cordoba Paterna Valencia where it is celebrated 1 May El Puerto de Santa Maria Cadiz Torrelaguna Madrid Rociana del Condado Huelva with crosses on Calle La Fuente Calle Las Huertas Calle Orozco Calle Nueva Calle Cabreros Calle Sevilla Calle Candao Calle Almonte and Calle Arriba Sagunto Valencia where it is celebrated 1 May Sama de Grado Asturias The origin of this celebration is uncertain but it may go back as much as 500 years One of its peculiarities is that instead of a procession centered on a cross there is a procession of the Virgin of Sorrows dressed in sky blue to celebrate Christ s victory over death The statue of the Virgin is displayed successively in three aspects as the mother of Jesus as the Dolorosa accompanying Jesus to Calvary and because May is her month Santa Cruz de La Palma Santa Cruz de Tenerife The festival here also celebrates the foundation of the city 3 May 1493 Santa Cruz de Tenerife The festival here also celebrates the foundation of the city 3 May 1494 Los Realejos Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Barrio de la Cruz Santa Seville Ubeda Jaen Valencia Valencia de Alcantara Province of Caceres Villa de Mazo Santa Cruz de Tenerife Villabragima Province of Valladolid Villalgordo del Marquesado Province of Cuenca Xabia Alicante Colombia edit The Departments of Antioquia Caldas Quindio and Risaralda and the municipality of Funza diocese of Facatativa have a large population of Basque descent who carry on the tradition of the Dia de la Santa Cruz Day of the Holy Cross or Dia de los Mil Jesuses Day of the Thousand Jesuses on 3 May People speak the name of Jesus one thousand times and believe this will protect them through the coming year citation needed Guatemala edit Most of Guatemala celebrates the Fiesta de las Cruces largely in a symbolic and respectful manner with colorful processions The construction equipment and materials retailer FFACSA one of Guatemala s leading businesses sponsors a large and less traditional celebration in Chimaltenango Department That celebration begins at 6 p m on 2 May with a celebration of the eucharist in honor of the Holy Cross On 3 May people begin to gather at 3 a m and parade through the streets of various municipalities of the department after which there are various sporting activities including mountain biking and a marathon At noon roughly 3 000 construction workers gather for lunch at FFACSA s various branch offices in Quetzaltenango Sacatepequez Totonicapan and at their central site in Chimaltenango After lunch there are raffles with prizes such as motorcycles bicycles televisions DVD players and household appliances At 4 p m there is an open air concert at the park in the center of Chimaltenango again with raffles and prizes and from 7 p m there are fireworks competitions Mexico edit In Mexico the celebration of the Holy Cross began at the dawn of the 16th century when captain Juan de Grijalva gave the name Isla de la Santa Cruz to the island now known as Cozumel Quintana Roo The holiday is celebrated in Mexico mainly by guilds and unions involved in construction A cross adorned with flowers and paper is placed in a high position on a building in the process of construction The workers then celebrate with local cuisine and alcoholic beverages such as tequila mezcal and local beer Peru edit Junin Junin Province Junin Region Cerro de Pasco Pasco Province Pasco Region Huancayo Huancayo Province Junin Region Amazonas Region Chupaca Province Junin Region Ayacucho Huamanga Province Ayacucho Region Puno Puno Province Puno Region Huancavelica Huancavelica Region Ica Region Roman Catholic Diocese of Tacna y Moquegua comprising the lay administrative regions Tacna Region and Moquegua regionVenezuela edit Choroni Aragua State has a celebration of great importance and tradition The entire village and many visitors have a large festival on the Caribbean shore and dance to drums until dawn in honor of the Cruz de Mayo Guatire Miranda State has had a cross as its patron since its foundation in the 17th century The cross is known as Santa Cruz de Pacairigua after the Pacairigua River which runs through the city The sculptured cross resides in the parish church of Guatire and its festival is 3 May In the east of Venezuela and in the Barlovento of Miranda vigils are held for the Cruz de Mayo in which the cross is adorned and praised with fulias and decimas El Salvador edit nbsp A decorated cross with offerings during the Day of the Cross in El SalvadorIn El Salvador the Day of the Cross Dia de la Cruz in Spanish as it is known is celebrated on May 3 This celebration is not considered an official government or church holiday it only marks the beginning of the wet or rainy season in winter It is a tradition that dates back to prehispanic times during which the indigenous people of the region Pipiles offered food to give thanks to the gods and Mother Earth for what they provided The cross was added when the tradition fused with Catholicism during the colonial period The cross is made from wood and decorated with flowers and long chains of colorful tissue paper Fruits grains vegetables drinks candies and sometimes money are placed at the foot of the cross as offerings Visitors to the household are invited to take offerings with them after they kneel in front of the cross and recite a thanksgiving prayer Trinidad edit In Lopinot Trinidad parang is performed at the Cruz de Mayo May Cross festival a ritual whose performance strongly mirrors the contemporary Santa Rosa Festival and was likely the source of its patterning The Cruz de Mayo celebrates the month of Mary and is also when the maypole is performed which has even more significance for the Caribs as it was amalgamated into their traditions of weaving the sebucan their cassava strainer the dance around the maypole weaving the ribbons together is seen as mimicking the weaving of the sebucan 3 References edit mayocordobes es accessed 2010 04 26 Official page of Cruz de mayo de Ecija accessed 2010 04 26 Review of the Indigenous Caribbean accessed 2012 08 28 External links edit in Spanish Fiestas de la Santa Cruz de Feria Badajoz declared by the Spanish government as an event of National Touristic Interest in Spanish Cruces de mayo en Lebrija declared by the Spanish government as an event of National Touristic Interest in Spanish Fiesta de las cruces en Torrelaguna Community of Madrid in Spanish Cruces de mayo en Piedrabuena in Spanish Cruces de Mayo de Cordoba Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fiesta de las Cruces amp oldid 1213550829, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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