Spain is known as a great holiday destination not only because of its amazing locations but also because of the many festivals happening all year round. Yesterday, a deeply rooted tradition called Cruces de Mayo unfolded in our neighborhood here in La Herradura. It is celebrated at the end of April or the beginning of May on the nearest Sunday to May 1st.
Here is some information from Andalucia.com:
“As legend has it, St Constantine’s mother, the much-venerated St Helen, is the founder of this festival, which shows special respect for the cross upon which Jesus was crucified. St Helen’s son Constantine dreamed of a cross that would help him win a battle he was losing. He ordered his troops to build him a large cross, which they then carried into battle and conquered their enemy. This inspired a family conversion to Christianity and St Helen to travel to Jerusalem in search of Jesus’ cross. In Jerusalem she found three crosses, and to establish which one was authentic, she carried out tests to see which could perform miracles. Only one of the crosses did, healing the sick and even bringing the dead back to life. St Helen then became a champion for the cross, urging people to continue worshipping even after her death.”
Last night, our idyllic village was far from sleepy. Loud flamenco music, colorful flower crosses, improvised bars in the narrow streets where people gathered with families and friends made me understand the origin of our own fiestas in the Philippines. Even the kids were out late at night as the best proof that the tradition will be well carried on to the next generation.
As a Catholic, I venerated the flower crosses and I felt happy seeing the vibrant spectacle around them. The bars next to the crosses serving beer, wine, and drinks along with tapas is an unfamiliar scene for me, though. But Jesus made wine from water, so why not?
The passionate love for music and dance makes Cruces de Mayo and other festivals into cultural fireworks and it is easy to understand why Spain is often voted as the best tourist destination in Europe.