Filipino-Us americans for the The fresh Orleans often have only one Santacruzan celebration, whether or not anybody else may be stored when you look at the Slidell or Mandeville. Marina Espina claims, “Discover very few Filipinos right here, like in California, Ny, otherwise Chicago, where there are various celebrations of the season. In the The fresh Orleans city, someone get together and you will enjoy at the one to chapel. There are Filipino priests that they may ask from inside the Houma and you will Thibodaux, and you may to New Orleans.” Nanette Franzuela contributes, “It’s a way of celebrating the latest Privileged Virgin Mary, and you may almost any I will do to honor her, I’m able to. I enjoy doing this because pertains to my personal whole friends, exactly as it shows my family area of the society their father and that i was raised that have. Carrying brand 
new Flores de erica try reaffirming my trust and my personal sources.”
They often satisfy right after the previous your done, or take 12 months to help you accentuate they
The afternoon begins outside the church toward congregation taking walks during the a procession and you will singing “Dios te Salvage Maria” (“Hail Mary”) in the Foreign-language, in between saying the newest prayers of your own Holy Rosary. The procession are contributed by among the mature people in the new congregation, usually using a noisy-presenter. After inside the chapel, the children and you will youth bring vegetation into Blessed Virgin Mary. Lined up when you look at the pairs, it place vegetation in front of a statue out of Mary. The last devotee, the latest year’s appointed “Reyna Elena” (Queen Helena), after that metropolises her herbs and you will an effective emblematic mix into the a location off prize close to the statue.
Pursuing the church rituals often there is a feast accompanied by a program out of points. Everything is coordinated by a panel from volunteers that sworn the perform for only which affairmunity links try bolstered just like the celebrants meal towards the Filipino-American as well as participate in the application form off things. Someone come from inside the county and you may beyond, particularly immediately following Katrina, so you can replace relationships and also to see the children and youngsters every dressed up and engaging in just what local Filipinos identify in general of the Philippines’ earliest everyone methods.
The students people are most of the using their finest outfits (have a tendency to white)
Most of the year’s Santacruzan has actually a committee which will take care of believe next [celebration]. They designate next year’s Reyna Elena, plus the Segunda Elena [the second queen]. The latest parents with teenage females is actually requested whenever they need its teen getting Reyna Elena, and in case they are doing, after that that nearest and dearest constantly brains the newest control off tasked tasks, usually the provision regarding flowers toward floral offering. While the Reyna Elena is like brand new “belle of baseball,” this really is a cherished status. The newest line is normally long are you to definitely. The fresh new Segunda Elena is the 2nd in-line, that will be made available to become 2nd year’s Reyna. New Reyna Elena’s nearest and dearest, whenever they wanted, is contribute more dinner toward feast, that can easily be “paired cooking pot-fortune.” The fresh Committee coordinates all situations. He has got subcommittees having food, plants, liturgy, musical, and the immediately after-chapel demonstrations. A few months before affair, they name an event to make certain everyone’s able.
The new tossing panel, about a month up until the fling, in addition to appears to your line-right up away from players. The little youngsters usually are considering the part and you may title out-of “Angels;” this new old girls, toddlers, is for every single given the term that is a keen accolade of the Virgin Mary, for example “Superstar of your Water,” “Queen out of Angels,” an such like. The panel in addition to assigns and produces a summary of “Arch Bearers” on the Reyna Elena and you may Segunda Elena, plus “Current Bearers” to the Holy Mass [just who provide the gifts regarding machine, drink, and money amassed].