Holy Ghost Feast celebrates 133 years on Maui
KULA (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Holy Ghost Feast returns to Maui this weekend, marking 133 years of the tradition on the island.
Read more Murder trial begins for Larry Millete in death of Radford grad Maya Millete
Holy Ghost Mission, the octagonal-shaped Catholic church in Kula, will host the event.
“It’s small, but it’s very touching in a sense that you can see the unity of the people,” said Father Anton Nyo.
Origins in Portugal
The feast began in the 13th century in the Azores, according to Mary Ann Turek, co-chair of the 133rd Holy Ghost Feast.
“The Azores were being plagued with earthquake, famine. They were devastated, especially the island of Pico, and so the people got together and prayed to the Holy Ghost,” Turek said. “On Pentecost Sunday morning, a huge ship arrived with stuff to help them.”
Portugal’s Queen hosted a feast every year in thanksgiving.
The Portuguese brought the tradition to Maui when they migrated in the 1800s.
Weekend events
This weekend’s celebration will include fresh malasadas, a free meal, live music, a farmer’s market and plant sale, a small goods auction and a live animal auction.
Read more Crisis teams use new law to get mentally ill homeless into treatment on Oahu
The livestock auction dates back to 1894, said parishioner Leina Shirota-Purdy.
“The farmers and the ranchers would get together weekly in order to have livestock auctions,” Shirota-Purdy said. “The monies raised for the livestock auction was put together to help for the building of the Holy Ghost Church.”
The church is also incorporating traditions that have been lost along the way.
Parishioners, along with the Portuguese Association of Maui, created a charola. The display includes fruit, vegetables, eggs and wine as symbols.
“The fruit and vegetables, they all are a symbol of God’s gifts to us. We have the eggs, that’s a symbol of fertility, and the wine is supposed to be a symbol of happiness,” Shirota-Purdy said.
Funds raised during the feast help keep the church going.
Parishioners say this weekend’s feast is much more than a fundraiser – it’s an opportunity for the entire community to come together to celebrate.
Post Comment