St. Patrick’s hosts annual Portuguese Festa

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church will host the annual Fallon Portuguese Festa this weekend at the church’s new St. Patrick’s Parrish Hall at 850 W. 4th St., to celebrate a historical act of kindness.

Throughout Portugal, the Azores, Brazil and wherever Portuguese communities were established, there is one specific festival, “The Feast of Pentecost,” which has become uniquely associated with the Portuguese.

The traditional celebration honors Queen Isabella’s response to widespread famine among her people in the 1200s. She promised to offer her precious jewels to pay for the food and give her crown to the church if relief came.

After nine days of prayer, ships arrived with food. The Queen, true to her word, proceeded to the church, with her guards and maids-in-waiting, to leave her crown on the altar.

The Portuguese Festa first started in Fallon in 1927 in honor of Portuguese Pentecostal celebrations that have been celebrated as far back as the 1200s. The festival continued in Fallon until 1955 and was then brought back in 1979.

Fallon’s celebration traditionally takes place during the third week of May, with Lovelock and Yerington following with their own Portuguese Festas in the following weeks

Fallon’s annual Portuguese Festa is Saturday and Sunday at the new hall.

Saturday’s event starts at 8 p.m. and Sunday’s festivities kick off at 10 a.m.

Dancing begins at 8 p.m. followed by the crowning of royalty at 9 p.m. and linguisa on rolls at 10 p.m. The 9th Street Band will entertain guests. Cost is $5 for adults, and 12 and under is free.

A Portuguese procession starts at 10 a.m. Sunday and runs from the West End Complex to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Sunday Mass begins at 11 a.m., followed by the festa with Traditional sopas. An auction will also be held in the hall.

The queens are as follows:

Audrey Jewel Rasmussen (Senior Queen)

Audrey is very grateful to be chosen for the 2015 Portuguese queen.

She loves to learn about Queen Isabella and how she relied on the Holy Ghost to change people to follow Christ. She is a quarter Portuguese and is proud that her great-great grandfather migrated to San Leandro, Calif., from the Azores with only a few dollars in his pocket and died a business owner.

She is goalie for the Oasis Bighorns and attends eighth grade at Churchill County Middle School. She has participated in basketball and served as volleyball manager. She loves animals and is currently secretary of the 4-H Four Footed Crew.

Audrey has always loved fashion. At age five she chose to do her own hair. She is very creative and loves art. Hunting and quad riding are two of her favorite things to do. She invites everyone to come participate in this year’s Festa.

Faith Myers (Junior Queen)

Faith is in sixth grade attending Oasis Academy. Her favorite sport is soccer, and she also has an interest in piano. Faith looks forward to becoming a veterinarian.

RayAnn Rasmussen (Mini Queen)

RayAnn is 10 years old and attends Numa Elementary School. She owns Sweet Dreams, a salon-based business, and her mother claims she gives the best foot rubs in town.

She loves to color and paint. RayAnn plays basketball and soccer and can often be found playing outside while talking the entire time.

She serves as vice-president for the 4-H Footed Crew. RayAnn loves animals of any kind, especially zebras. RayAnn loves being Portuguese