Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May) is a festival held in the Philippines that celebrates the Virgin Mary with flowers, processions, and beauty pageants throughout the month of May. In Canada, this beloved Filipino tradition is not only preserved but also embraced with great enthusiasm by the Filipino community, providing a vibrant link to their cultural roots. This blog post examines how Flores de Mayo is celebrated among Filipinos in Canada and the role of Move For Less in keeping these traditional celebrations alive and flourishing abroad.
The Tradition of Flores de Mayo
Flores de Mayo is one of the most cherished Filipino traditions, marked by daily offerings of flowers to the Virgin Mary and culminating in a grand procession known as Santacruzan. This event reenacts Queen Helena’s (Reyna Elena) search for the Holy Cross and features young women and men dressed in elaborate costumes representing biblical characters and Filipino archetypes, parading through the streets under beautifully decorated arches.

Adapting Tradition in Canada
In Canada, the Filipino community adapts the Flores de Mayo to local conditions, often consolidating festivities into a single day due to weather constraints and busy schedules. Despite these adjustments, the essence of the festival remains intact, with churches and community centers decorated with flowers and processions taking place in major cities with significant Filipino populations. These events not only foster a sense of community and continuity among Filipinos but also attract people from other cultures curious about Filipino traditions.
The Role of Move For Less
Move For Less plays a vital role in these celebrations by ensuring that traditional costumes, decorations, and other necessary items are shipped efficiently and safely from the Philippines to Canada. Our Balikbayan box services are tailored to handle delicate items that are essential for the authentic reenactment of the Santacruzan, ensuring that the Filipino community can celebrate Flores de Mayo with the same vibrancy and spirit as they would back home.
Community and Cultural Pride
For many Filipinos in Canada, participating in or attending Flores de Mayo festivities is a profound expression of cultural pride and religious devotion. It is an opportunity for the older generation to pass on traditions to younger Filipinos born or raised abroad, ensuring that these cultural practices do not fade away. Additionally, these celebrations serve as an open invitation to non-Filipinos to experience and learn about Filipino culture, fostering greater understanding and multicultural integration.
If you’re planning to participate in or organize a Flores de Mayo celebration in Canada and need to ensure your traditional items arrive from the Philippines safely and on time, contact Move For Less. We are committed to supporting the Filipino community in preserving their rich cultural traditions abroad. Reach out to us at (647) 933-2437 or via email at support@moveforless.ca for reliable, culturally sensitive shipping services that bring your traditions closer to you, wherever you are in Canada.