Introducing Portuguese Festa Royalty

Staff report -- The 700-year-old tradition of the Festival of the Holy Ghost, or Festas do Espírito Santo, celebrates the culturally rich Azorean and Portuguese heritage. The Azores, nine islands clustered off the coast of Portugal, faced a devastating famine that lasted several years, along with the rest of Portugal in the 1300’s. Portugal’s Queen Isabel was greatly concerned and asked her people to pray --  nine days later, ships arrived with food in the harbor of Lisbon ending the famine. Believing in the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit, Queen Isabel walked to the Church, joined by her ladies and the people, where she left her crown jewels as an offering. The Portuguese Festa in Fallon was first held in 1927. Ninety-two years of tradition includes a celebration of  Queen’s procession at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. This year the Festa Queens will be crowned at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday evening during the Festa Dance. After the crowning, the queens will participate in the “feeding the people” where customary Portuguese Linguica will be served. On Sunday, The Festa parade lineup starts at 10:15 a.m. at West End School, at 280 S. Russell Street and proceeds to St. Patrick’s Church, at 850 W. Fourth Street. The Sunday's meal of serving of Sopas, continues the tradition of "Feeding of the People" after mass around noon and will be followed by an auction. Several generations of Portuguese families participate in the festivities. This year’s queens share their individual story and Portuguese heritage. Senior Queen: Savana Manha Hello. My Name is Savana Manha. I am 16 and I attend CCHS as a sophomore. I enjoy playing sports such as softball and volleyball. I am involved in FFA where I interact with my community and complete at state and national levels for range management and poultry evaluation. Through FFA, I am raising 25 bronze turkeys and selling them for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am huge fan of pretty much all outdoor activities, but two that stand out the most are hunting and ATV riding with my family in the mountains. My father, who passed on my Portuguese blood is Mark Manha and my mother's name s Donna Evans. I have an autistic brother named Luke who is in a special school in Wichita, Kansas. My Portuguese heritage originated from Flores Island in the Azores, off the coast of Portugal. My great grandfather and great grandmother Joseph and Emilia, also known as Vozie, moved to the U.S. from Flores Island in 1917. They settled in Berkley, California, where they had three kids, Lorraine Shoemaker, Lillian Webb, and their youngest, my grandfather Maurice Mahna who was born in 1913. In 1940, my great grandparents moved their family to Stillwater here in Fallon, Nevada. The bought a ranch hoping to become farmers, but my grandfather Joseph passed away forcing Vozie to sell the ranch and move into town. My grandfather, Maurice, joined the Army and served in the Korean War. After coming home, he worked for Kents and Creamland Dairy. Grandpa Maurice met and married my grandmother, Jennifer Rich Manha.  They had my father, Mark Manha, who was born in 1963. I also have two Portuguese uncles, Mike Manha, and Maurice Edward Manha. My great grandmother Vozie passed away in 1985 and my grandfather passed away in 1995. This is my 15th year participating in this tradition. I am honored to pay the part of the being the Senior Queen in the 2019 Portuguese Festa. My dad and uncle took part in the Festa when they were my age, and I am glad to be honoring my heritage. Queen: Jordan Escobar Lipnicki My name is Jordan Escobar Lipnicki, I am 11 years old. I like swimming and spending time on the beach. My dream is to become a marine biologist. My parents are David Lipnicki and Jennifer Escobar. I am a second-generation Portuguese Queen. My mother, Jennifer, was the queen in 2002. My three aunts Renee Escobar, Tina, and Cyndi Lipnicki were also Festa queens. My Grandfather from my mother’s side, Carlos Escobar, was born in Angola Africa. My great-grandparents, Augusto and Filomena Escobar are from the Azores and Portugal. My great-grandparents from my father’s side are Louis and Nancy Gomes. My great grandfather Louis Gomes was born in Fallon in 1924, when he was 7 years old his family moved back to Flores to help take care of the family. In 1946 Louis moved back to Fallon to start his farm. He married my great grandmother, Nancy in 1953. In 1954 my grandmother Melody Lipnicki was born, carrying on our Portuguese heritage. Mini-Queen:  Lila Mae Louise Montero Rodrigues Hi. My name is Lila Mae Louise Montero Rodrigues, I am almost eight years old. I go to oasis academy and I am in second grade, almost third. I really like art and I do Mexican dancing. I have two chicks and an duckling. I am going be big sister soon. My great-great-grandfather, Antonio Damazio, came to the U.S. from Portugal when he was 19 years old. His wife, my great-great grandmother Edith, came from the Azores. Their son, John Souza Damazio lived in Fallon for 40 years. This will be my 7th year participating in the Festa. I am very excited to be this year’s mini queen.       Support local, independent news – contribute to The Fallon Post, your non-profit (501c3) online news source for all things Fallon. Never miss the local news -- read more on The Fallon Post home page.