FROM SMALL ACORNS . . .
Back in 1958, a local retail merchant group originated an idea for a three-day Easter festival, including a parade to be held on Easter Sunday. The marvelous weather and colorful historic background of St. Augustine made it a perfect fit! As such, the St. Augustine Easter Week Festival was launched.
Back in 1958, a local retail merchant group originated an idea for a three-day Easter festival, including a parade to be held on Easter Sunday. The marvelous weather and colorful historic background of St. Augustine made it a perfect fit! As such, the St. Augustine Easter Week Festival was launched.
The Royal Trio
Mrs. Eleanor Barnes
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In the 1950's, the City of St. Augustine asked Mrs. Eleanor Barnes, a local genealogist, to research St. Augustine's history. She visited Spain to find ties to St. Augustine. During her research, she discovered that a Spanish Royal Family "Royal Trio" reigned during the period before and after the Castillo de San Marcos was decreed to be built in 1672. Mrs. Barnes returned with her research and presented it to the City of St. Augustine. The City then declared that the Royal Trio of 1672 would be the "Goodwill Ambassadors of St. Augustine". Mrs. Barnes then began to narrate and author the script of the Trio from 1959 until 1969.
Since 1959, the St. Augustine Royal Family has promoted the City of St. Augustine by portraying this famous Royal Trio of King Carlos II, Queen Marianna and Princess Margarita Maria. Each year, we celebrate St. Augustine and commemorate this Royal Trio by choosing three heritage natives to portray them. Those chosen must trace their lineage back through the history of St. Augustine and into antiquity in Spain. These individuals represent St. Augustine throughout the year in various events locally and around the United States. |
The Knighting Ceremony
When a person works hard to do a good job, they are said to be a hard worker. When a person adds a few extra hours of volunteer work to aid the community in which they live, they are said to be good citizens. But here in St. Augustine, when a person not only does a good job, not only gives a little extra work to the community, but also volunteers for tasks to improve our community and improve the Easter Festival, they deserve to be knighted. This tradition started when it was decided that there were members of our community that needed to be singled out to be thanked for all extra hours they put in promoting St. Augustine and its rich history. Words are insufficient to tell why each has been honored but the list speaks for itself.
Palm Sunday - Blessing of the Fleet
Throughout the years, the Blessing of the Fleet has all the majesty of tradition and the solemnity of a religious ceremony. Gaily decorated shrimp boats, private yachts and small pleasure crafts participate in the traditional blessing. The custom began centuries ago to protect the fishing vessels and their crew to ensure their safe return to port. As the vessels pass by the municipal pier, they are solemnly blessed by the Bishop or Pastor of the Cathedral of St. Augustine with the recitation of the Ancient Prayer of the Sea, "May the Blessing of Almighty God, The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost descend upon these ships and upon all who shall be in them and remain forever. Amen." At the conclusion of the passing of the boats, a floral bouquet in the shape of an anchor is placed in the water of the Matanzas Bay to float with the tide out to sea.
The Blessing of the Fleet begins immediately after Palm Sunday Mass at the Cathedral Basilica where the "Royal Trio" and the Entourage, including The Bishop of St. Augustine, will proceed through the streets from the Cathedral to the City Pier.
The Blessing of the Fleet begins immediately after Palm Sunday Mass at the Cathedral Basilica where the "Royal Trio" and the Entourage, including The Bishop of St. Augustine, will proceed through the streets from the Cathedral to the City Pier.
Promenade
According to Webster’s Dictionary, a promenade is a leisurely walk in a public place for pleasure or display. Of course, we have judges and prizes.
The Easter promenade features St. Augustine locals and visitors promenading in their Easter finery in the Plaza de la Constitucion, between King Street and Cathedral Place.
Are you from Honolulu, Hawaii? Or could you be from Hamburg, Germany? Does your pet like to be the best dressed in town? If you answer yes to any of these questions you could be a winner in the annual Easter Promenade.
Here are some of the categories that you could be a winner:
Best Easter Hat, Best Dressed Little Girl, Best Dressed Little Boy, Best Dressed Mother/Daughter, Best Dressed Father/Son, Best Dressed Family, Best Dressed Pet, Furthest Traveled and there might even be a surprise category. Why not join us “In Your Easter Bonnet, With All the Frills Upon It?”
The Easter promenade features St. Augustine locals and visitors promenading in their Easter finery in the Plaza de la Constitucion, between King Street and Cathedral Place.
Are you from Honolulu, Hawaii? Or could you be from Hamburg, Germany? Does your pet like to be the best dressed in town? If you answer yes to any of these questions you could be a winner in the annual Easter Promenade.
Here are some of the categories that you could be a winner:
Best Easter Hat, Best Dressed Little Girl, Best Dressed Little Boy, Best Dressed Mother/Daughter, Best Dressed Father/Son, Best Dressed Family, Best Dressed Pet, Furthest Traveled and there might even be a surprise category. Why not join us “In Your Easter Bonnet, With All the Frills Upon It?”
St. Augustine Easter Parade
Here in the Nation’s Oldest City, we have a parade that is unique in the first colony in America. St. Augustine adopted “La Parada de los Caballos y Coches” (The Parade of Horses and Carriages) in early 1957. A local decorator took on the assignment of dressing up the horse drawn sightseeing carriages, a trademark of St. Augustine, which became the core of the Easter Parade. The year 1965 saw the beginning of requests to prominent women to donate decorated hats to be modeled in the original fashion of "La Parade de los Caballos y Coches". Many of the hats adorning the horses have been donated by influential elected and appointed officials and/or their spouses.
Now joining the parade are high stepping bands, marching and twirling units, colorfully decorated floats, clowns, gaily decorated horse units, historic Militia and police units, beauty queens and, of course, the Easter Bunny! Many elected or appointed local and state officials along with special dignitaries will sit in the reviewing stand while enjoying the master of ceremonies and parade, as our Parade Marshal leads the Royal Trio and Entourage through the downtown streets of St. Augustine.
The Parade traditionally was held on Easter Sunday, but in recent years is now held on the Saturday before Easter beginning at 9:00 a.m. starting on San Marco Avenue then winding through downtown St. Augustine.
Now joining the parade are high stepping bands, marching and twirling units, colorfully decorated floats, clowns, gaily decorated horse units, historic Militia and police units, beauty queens and, of course, the Easter Bunny! Many elected or appointed local and state officials along with special dignitaries will sit in the reviewing stand while enjoying the master of ceremonies and parade, as our Parade Marshal leads the Royal Trio and Entourage through the downtown streets of St. Augustine.
The Parade traditionally was held on Easter Sunday, but in recent years is now held on the Saturday before Easter beginning at 9:00 a.m. starting on San Marco Avenue then winding through downtown St. Augustine.
Fromajada
Fromajadas are tasty cheese pastries, but it also refers to a Minorcan folksong sung on Christmas Eve. This custom was originally brought to this country in the late 1700's when the Minorcans migrated to St. Augustine from New Smyrna, Florida. According to tradition, the Fromajada Serenade involved bands of young men who went about the streets singing at various houses a song of praise to the Virgin Mary with violin and guitar accompaniment. At these houses, a slight tap or knock would announce their arrival along with the music. If the residents were at home and the music was pleasing to them, the reward was a treat of delicious Fromajadas. For this, the musicians would sing "The Owner of this House is a Polite Gentleman." For those who did not favor the musicians with a tasty treat, the musical reply was "The Owner of this House is Not a Polite Gentleman!"