Draped in regal attire, little princesses marched through Union City’s Old Alvarado neighborhood for the 85th Annual Holy Ghost Festa on Sunday, May 22.
Celebrated each year since the S.D.E.S. (Society of the Divine Holy Spirit) of Alvarado was established in 1926 in Union City, the event features a parade fit for a queen—or several queens, in this case.
The procession was made up of different Portuguese groups from around the Bay Area and state. Each group was represented with a queen and side maidens dressed in elaborate gowns.
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The tradition can be traced to Portugal’s devotion to the Holy Spirit and to Portuguese folklore dating back to the 1300s, according to Carlos Garcia, a past S.D.E.S. president.
In Garcia’s version of the tradition, the generous Queen Isabel of Portugal would sneak food to the poor, much to the king’s dismay. One time, the king caught the queen trying to hide bread for the poor in a bag. When asked what was inside, she told the king it was flowers. According to legend, when the queen opened the bag, the bread had turned into flowers, Garcia said.
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Keeping the Queen’s tradition of generosity, the S.D.E.S. festival features free food for everyone, Garcia said. “We filled the hall three times,” he said.
The celebration also featured a flag raising ceremony, a marching band concert, auction and dance.
The S.D.E.S. of Alvarado holds its annual festival four weeks after Easter. It’s one of the first celebrated in California, Garcia said.
In coming weeks, similar celebrations will be held in Newark, Hayward, San Jose and other Bay Area cities.
Patch contributor Paciano Triunfo caught the parade as it made its way through Union City. Check out photos above.