At the San Luis Obispo Trinity Hall, Festa members are doing The Grand March, a traditional Portuguese dance. Photo courtesy of trinityhallslo.com website.
For over a hundred years, San Luis Obispo has had a vibrant Portuguese community. There are multiple Trinity Halls and so many immigrants have settled and grown families here.
To preserve this culture, there has been one tradition that has held a special place in this community’s heart: The Holy Ghost Festa.
The Festa is a catholic celebration honoring Queen St. Isabel of the Azores, which are islands off the coast of mainland Portugal. The legend of Queen Isabel states that she fed the poor during the famine, taking bread from her own table and hiding in her skirt. When the King’s guards approached her, they asked her to lift her skirt, when she did, the bread turned into roses. This was considered a miracle, and ever since, they have honored her.
“I remember going out there every year since I was a little kid, and seeing my cousins that I don’t see very often, and drinking lots of sodas, and catching lizards. My dad planted some trees out there. And being in The Grand March several times, escorting queens, it’s just something we’ve always done. The sopas, some people love it, some people don’t, but everyone has a good time,” said lifetime member of the Portuguese Holy Spirit Society (P.H.S.S.) Scott Chaves.
The Festas in SLO, Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach, Santa Maria, and Paso Robles all follow a similar outline.
On the first day, typically a Saturday, there is a dance where traditional music is played and a dance called The Grand March takes place.
The next day there is a parade where three youths in the community, typically girls, dawn elaborate dresses and capes with incredible handmade embroidery, they also wear tiaras, and after some ceremonies, additional crowns that have been passed down for years.
Each Queen picks two sidemaids to accompany her as she walks, these sidemaids also wear elaborate dresses, but not nearly as flashy as the Queens. These Queens march into a church, with music, flags, banners, and music all in formation. Then, do a catholic mass, with an extra ceremony outside, passing the special crowns from the Queens from the year before, to the present year’s queens.
“Cultural preservation strengthens community identity because it allows for people to become more involved and aware of their culture and it also lets individuals come together to form bonds and connect,” said sophomore Wynn Sirisophonwatthanakul.
This celebration in SLO has been happening for one hundred and fourteen years, the time, money, and effort into keeping it afloat is incredible.
There are three Queens in the Festa, sometimes two. The Little Queen, the Junior Queen, and the Senior Queen. Being a Queen is an honor in these communities, especially being the Senior Queen, who picks the themed colors, decorations, and the court of the entire Festa.
Another huge part of the Festa is the feast, where a traditional Portuguese dish, sopas, is eaten, along with other classic Portuguese dishes. This feast is free and homemade in the kitchens of these Trinity halls.
“I’m not even Portuguese but my friend took me to the Portuguese Hall while growing up. I still remember goofing off outside, eating snow cones, and sodas imported from Portugal. I’m also a sidemaid in the Festa this year,” said sophomore Stella Beckett.
This community opens to people who aren’t even Portuguese. To honor St. Isabel, the Festa gives food out to everyone for free, and invites all to join.
The next tradition is an auction, where members of the community donate services, items, and baked goods to be auctioned off to the attendees. The bidding gets high for certain items like Portuguese sweet bread, landscaping services, and crafting items just to help support the community.
Sadly, this beautiful culture is having trouble surviving, especially the Trinity hall in SLO, located at . The next festa celebration is on June 14th and 15th, where five of our own students will participate in the ceremony. Sophia Chaves (Senior Queen), Stella Beckett (Sidemaid), Sadie Huff (Sidemaid). Two additional members of the court are Bryce Riley and Henry Allen.
Help celebrate this dying cultural event. For more information check the trinityhallslo.com website.
Sources: trinityhallslo.com
