As hundreds of people watched, Portuguese Festival queen Jillian
Leal released a dove from the entrance to SDES Hall at noon Sunday
to demonstrate the spirit of the Holy Ghost.
As hundreds of people watched, Portuguese Festival queen Jillian Leal released a dove from the entrance to SDES Hall at noon Sunday to demonstrate the spirit of the Holy Ghost.
The two-day festival is one of the oldest traditions of San Benito County, dating back to the 19th century, and is attended by more than 1,000 persons every year.
“It has come to mean friendship and goodwill to so many people, those of Portuguese descent as well as to others of the community,” said Manuel Silva, president of the sponsoring SDES Lodge. “Everyone is welcome.”
The weekend’s activities began with a dance at Portuguese Hall on Seventh Street and the coronation of the queen and her sidemaids, sister Kristine Leal and Mary Da Rose.
On Sunday morning the three young women were among participants in the traditional parade that included representatives from Portuguese lodges in Los Banos, Gilroy, Watsonville and other Central Coast communities.
The parade left the hall and marched east to San Benito Street, then turned to Fifth Street and followed that route back to Sacred Heart Church for Mass. Upon its conclusion, participants returned to the hall where a band played music and the dove was released.
In the meantime, the first seating of guests for the traditional complimentary sopas dinner was already underway in the downstairs dining area. As they were seated, volunteer waiters rushed bowls of bread soaking in beef broth with cabbage and bowls of boiled beef to the tables.
That meal is significant to the Portuguese. Legend has it that the compassionate Queen Isabel visited villages within her realm to aid the poor. One village, the legend continues, was so destitute that it could afford only a small portion of beef and barely enough flour for one slice of bread. But because of their willingness to give all they had, the bread and meat were miraculously transformed into enough for everyone.
Through the centuries since, Portuguese communities and the descendants of Portuguese pay tribute to the memory of Isabel, no matter where they have settled.
Anthony Silva, like his brother Manuel, a three-time president of the lodge, said the volunteer cooks had prepared 2,900 pounds of beef to serve with 360 loaves of bread and eight cases of cabbage.
“We make absolutely sure that we’re going to have enough food for anyone who joins us,” he said. “We have never had to turn anyone away because we ran out.”
Most of the parade participants and others formed a line and quickly filled the tables for the second setting, and at least one more was expected after that.
An auction and reminiscing about earlier festivals were part of Sunday’s activities.
“I’ve been coming for many, many years,” Ron Rodrigues said. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
First-time visitors Don and Maureen Anderson were impressed by the hospitality and camaraderie of the event.
“I’m having a wonderful time,” he said.
Maureen Anderson agreed, saying “Everyone makes you feel right at home. I’m so glad we came.”
