Festa do Espirito Santo

2010 Festa do Espirito Santo
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This weekend, June 6 and 7, will be the Festa do Espirito Santo (The Holy Ghost Festival), an event that the Portuguese American community of San Benito County holds every year. This traditional Portuguese festival is celebrated by Portuguese communities throughout the world on Pentecost Sunday.

The celebration honors the life of Queen Isabella, the wife of King Denis who ruled Portugal in the late 1200s. At the time, a severe drought caused widespread famine. According to one story, Queen Isabella snuck out food from the palace to feed the people. One day, with her apron full of bread, King Denis stopped her and demanded to see what she was hiding in her apron. She opened it to show red roses, which was considered a miracle because it wasn't the season for roses. From that point, Queen Isabella decided to have masses to maintain the faith of the people through the bad times. On Pentecost Sunday, ships sailed into the Lisbon harbor full of of grain for everyone.

The local Festa do Espirito Santo will begin Saturday night, 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM, with a dance and the crowning of Queen Isabella at the SDES Portuguese Hall on 695 Seventh Street. The following morning, the annual parade will start at 10 AM in front of the hall. The parade will go up Seventh St. to San Benito Street, turn at Fifth Street and head down to the Sacred Heart Church. A traditional mass will be held, including the serving of complimentary sopas. After the mass, the festival will continue at the hall. 

It's Election Day!

Remember to vote, if you haven't yet. The poll places stay open until 8 PM tonight.

If you're unsure of where your polling station is or need to review the sample ballot, head over to this page of the San Benito County Registrar of Voters web site.

Looking Up on San Benito Street

I spy with my little camera eye these decorative elements up high on the building at 728 San Benito Street.  They're gorgeous. I wonder why the original owner decided to go with this design. For that matter, I wonder who that first owner was, how old the building is, and what the first shop was in that building. Anyone know?

Cleverly Repurposed

Pretty cool bike basket, don't you think?

At first I thought it was a drum without its skin. Nope. The basket was made from bicycle wheel rims and spokes. Clever!

The bicycle was sitting outside Off the Chain Bikes at 101 McCray Street, Suite 101. By the way, the shop not only sells bicycles and bicycle accessories, but also purses, shoulder bags, backpacks, and other things made from recycled inner tubes, all designed by Robin Lucas. Check them out, the next time you're there. Until then, you can see samples at this web page.

A Night of Drumming and Dance

The San Jose Taiko, from San Jose, celebrated its 40th anniversary this year.

Last night, the Husband and I had the pleasure to watch the stage come alive at the San Benito High School Auditorium with joyful precision Japanese Taiko drumming by the San Jose Taiko and African, jazz, modern, and hip-hop inspired-dancing performed by the Dimensions Dance Theater. The duo bill was presented by the San Benito County Arts Council, as part of its fundraising efforts for the Artists in the Schools Program.

Here are some links to learn more about last night's performers and the San Benito County Arts Council:

• San Jose Taiko
• Dimensions Dance Theater
• San Benito County Arts Council 
• Artists in the Schools Program, part of the Arts in Education Program 

The Dimensions Dance Theater, based in Oakland, is one of
the oldest African-American dance troupes in the United States.