Hope, heat mark Festa

More than 2,000 people – some from as far away as Los Angeles – braved temperatures exceeding 105 degrees to attend Sunday’s Portuguese Festa in Princeton.

“My father warned me it would be hot,” said Marissa Cornelius, 13, of Los Angeles, who portrayed Lady Fatima in Sunday’s parade. “But I’ve been coming ever since I was born, and it’s been hot before.”

The Festa tradition began at the end of Europe’s great famine period during the reign of Queen Isabel of Portugal. It continues as a celebration of thanksgiving, faith and keeping alive some of the old traditions of the Portuguese people.

Jade Leonardo, 17, daughter of Connie and Randy Prinz of Willows and Manuel Leonardo of Bayliss, was crowned Festa queen during a special Mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Sophia Sto­cks, daughter of Steve and Kim Stocks of Princeton, reigned as Little Queen.

“It’s exciting,” Jade said. “The queen is selected by a draw, so I’m happy to have been chosen.”

The annual Festa marks the legendary miracle of Queen Isabel, Jade said. The Portuguese queen, also known as “Isabel the Peacemaker” was carrying bread secretly in her apron to feed Portugal’s poor when her husband, King Dinis, stopped her.

Jade said the king had forbidden his wife to feed the poor, so when she opened her mantle, the bread had miraculously turned into roses. “It was in the winter time,” she said.

Legend also holds that three ships carrying grain were blown off course and into the Lisbon harbor to bring an end to the great famine that had plagued Europe from 1315 to 1317. As part of the legend, the queen placed a crown on a poor girls’ head and declared a day of feasting and celebration.

 The Portuguese have celebrated the Feast of the Holy Ghost in Princeton for more than 100 years, and hold the crowing of the queens at Mass as an integral part of their heritage.

“I’m very proud of my heritage,” said Bernie “Alves” Soeth, 92, of Willows, who reigned as Festa Queen in 1934. “I will be proud until the day I die.”

Soeth said although the Portuguese Hall and grounds in Princeton have changed over the years, the reigning of the queen was the same today as it was 75 years ago when the crown was placed on her head.

“I was very sheltered by my father, so I thought I was the ‘cat’s meow,’” Alves said. 

Following tradition, two meals of roast beef, potato salad and soupas were served at noon and dinner. The Festa included dancing and an auction.

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