A hot time in Princeton

Hundreds braved the June heat to enjoy traditional Portuguese fare in Princeton on Sunday, but inside the main hall, it was all about the dress.

"Every little girl dreams of being the queen," said Marissa Cornelius, whose crowing during Mass was an integral part of the Holy Ghost celebration. "All my life, I've dreamed of wearing the crown."

"Marissa came along way to be queen," said the Rev. John Miles, on the steps of St. Joseph's Catholic Church prior to the ceremony. "This is such a special day. It is the day when people can stand up and say, 'I'm proud to be Portuguese.'"

Cornelius came all the way from the suburbs of Pasadena to reign over the annual event, which keeps alive some of the old traditions of Portugal.

The 14-year old is the daughter of John and Roxanne Cornelius of La Canada, a suburb of Pasadena, and granddaughter of Frank and Eva May Leonardo of Willows.

"I haven't missed a single Festa in my entire life," said Cornelius, who portrayed Lady Fatima in the 2009 Festa parade. "So it's pretty exciting to be queen."

Like other girls of Portuguese heritage, Rachel Cullen had hoped it would be her name drawn for the honor, but said she was still thrilled to serve as her cousin's sidemaid.

"You still get to wear the cool dress," Cullen said.

Cullen is daughter of Matthew Cullen and Judy Leonardo Cullen of Long Beach.

Amanda Hansen, daughter of Greg and Linda Zoller Hansen of Princeton, also served as sidemaid.

Like Cornelius, Hansen has never missed a Festa.

"What's really cool about the Festa is getting to see everyone again," said Hansen, who will be a freshman next year at Princeton High School. "A lot of these people you only see once a year."

The Festa tradition began at the end of Europe's great famine period during the reign of Queen Isabel of Portugal, later canonized St. Elizabeth the Peacemaker.

Stories tend to vary, but most include the idea that the kind queen bestowed her crown on a young peasant girl during a festival that marked the end to the famine, allowing her to wear it for the day.

The Festa has been held in Princeton for more than 100 years, and continues as a celebration of thanksgiving and faith. It includes a noon and dinner meal of roast beef, potato salad and soupas, a bread dish soaked in beef broth and cabbage.

Cornelius said she attends several Festas throughout the year, including those in the Central Valley highlighted by the tradition and pageantry of bloodless bullfighting — but said the Princeton's Festa is one of her favorites.

"Being queen is such a privilege," she said.

Visiting royalty at Princeton's Festa included Orland's Festa queen Lauren McCorkle, with sidemaids Laura Pedrozo and Laura Ferriera; Orland's Little Queen Britton Bassetti and sidemaids, Gina Amaro and Lainie Alves; and Lemore Festa Queen Alicia Couto and sidemaid Arael Luiz.

Princeton's little queen was Maci Amaro, daughter of Mark and Diane Amaro of Willows. Her sidemaids were Makaela and Makenzie Weathers.

Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.