July 17, 2012 > Holy Ghost Festa Holy Ghost Festa Every year from Easter to Pentecost, Catholic Portuguese communities hold various religious processions, feasts, and special masses in honor of Queen Isabel of Portugal, who was said to show great compassion toward the poor. According to legend, Queen Isabel (St. Isabel) was saddened by her starving subjects during the 13th century and prayed to God for help. Smuggling bread to the poor, her husband, King Diniz, surprised her and asked what she was doing. She told him she had white roses in her apron and the bread she was taking to the poor miraculously transformed into white roses! From then on, the royals would host a feast once a year where one peasant would be chosen to wear the King's crown for the night; thus the tradition of choosing "Queens" for festas began. Festivities typically feature a special procession, coronation of "Queens" and feasts in which sopas, or beef and vegetable soup, are served. Locally, the I.D.E.S, or Brotherhood of the Divine Holy Spirit, host festas throughout the community, a reminder of Tri-City heritage. Festa de Divino Espirito Santo Parade S.E.S. Council No. 8 Saturday, July 21 Small Parade 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. The parade will exit the Newark Pavilion onto Thornton Avenue, to Arden Street, to Plummer Avenue, to Cherry Street, and return to the Pavilion. Sunday, July 22 Traditional Annual Parade 10:45 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. The parade will exit the Newark Pavilion onto Thornton Avenue, proceed to St. Edwards Church, and return to the Pavilion. 6430 Thornton Ave., Newark (510) 793-4062