La Cruz de Mayo

NEXT SUNDAY, at 3 pm, the community of Lopinot, in collaboration with the Parang Association and the Ven-ezuelan Institute for Culture and Coopera-tion (IVCC), will be hosting Cruz de Mayo — May Cross celebrations. This celebration is part of a move to revitalise portions of TT’s His-panic heritage that have almost been forgotten.

Cruz de Mayo celebrations were first brought to our shores in the 19th century by “cocoa panyol” labourers from neighbouring Venezuela who were hired to work on cocoa plantations. It is a religious festival marked on the Catholic calendar celebrated throughout the world the indigenous touches of Venezuela set our version of the celebrations apart from others.

In the old days in rural communities, music form-ed an essential part of the daily routine. Communi-ties and families would pray for God’s blessing, especially over their crops. They would sing about the beauty of the landscape and praise God for his Creation.

During celebrations, honour is given to God and promises that were made to the cross that have been fulfilled are offered up to God. In addition, new promises are made along with invocations for God’s protection and prayers for a good harvest and health.

A unique aspect of the celebrations is the decoration of the cross and the songs that are sung. Crosses are elaborately decorated with flowers and placed on the altar which is itself adorned with fruits of the harvest, candles, flowers and other decorations. Following the Velorio de la Cruz or Worship of the Cross, participants either cover the cross or step outside, a reverent distance from the cross, to show respect for the solemn ritual they have undertaken.

Later, the more festive side of May Cross kicks off with the playing of Galer?n music, with ex-temporaneous, 40-word verses of D?cimas.

Legend has it that this “supremely beautiful” form of music was created on the island of Margarita by a sailor who, on hearing a Spaniard sailor reciting a D?cima, thought it would be a good idea to put the words into song.

The origins of the May Cross are pagan. The peoples of old Europe would adorn a young girl with flowers in commemoration of the goddess Maya or Maia. In some cultures, she is also referred to as Flora.

They would celebrate with dancing around a log which was eventually replaced by the Christian cross and its accompanying rites. The Christian legends behind the Santa Cruz are many. The first claims Emperor Constan-tine’s mother, Saint Helen, discovered the true cross. Legend has it that Constantine had a dream in which he kept seeing the cross with the words “With this sign is your victory” written on it. On waking up, he trusted his mother with the mission of finding the true cross of The Christ. On consulting wise men, Helen was led to the location of the crucifixion where there were three blood-soaked crosses. She ascertained the true cross by summoning the ill, broken and dead who were all cured and restored to life on touching the true cross. It is said that veneration was born from that time.

A second story tells of Emperor Heracles who defeated the Persians and rescued the cross. Those summoned to carry it were dressed in robes and finery and soon the cross’ weight became too much for them. On advice from the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Heracles humbled himself and carried the cross back to Calvary, restoring it to its rightful place. It was then said that to avoid theft of the cross and to avoid this power being in the hands of one person, the cross was divided. One part was sent to Rome, one to Jerusalem, one to Constantinople and various other pieces to churches worldwide in places that carry the name “Veracruz.” It is claimed that Spain itself, carries two pieces of the cross in Merida and Guadix and it is for this reason that Spaniards pay special devotion to the Santa Cruz.