Excerpt from Paula Allen
Web Posted: 04/26/2009 12:00 CDT
This was not the first year that Fiesta San Antonio (then known as Spring Carnival) had a queen, but it was the first time one was selected by the newly formed Order of the Alamo. John Baron Carrington, then freshly hired as executive secretary of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, "believed that one of his primary efforts should be to help develop Fiesta into an even larger and more important celebration," says Jack Maguire in "A Century of Fiesta in San Antonio."
To that end, this energetic promoter founded the Order of the Alamo, "the first all-male sodality with a single purpose: to plan and execute a specific aspect of Fiesta." The order, composed of "eminent young men," was formed "to select and direct the coronation and entertainment of the Queen and her court."
The revamped, Carrington-masterminded coronation of April 20, 1909, in Beethoven Hall, complete with carefully choreographed "court dances," promised to "eclipse in brilliance anything ever given in San Antonio," according to the Light.
The queen of the carnival was to be chosen from one of the announced belles: Julia Armstrong, Aileen Austin, Nana Davenport, Susan Blocker, Ella Carr, Miriam Clark, Zula Gaddis, Etta Hummel, Eda Kampmann (who became that year's queen), Mattie May Lowe and Winnifred Pollons.
Some Fiesta San Antonio History and Some Cocktails to Celebrate the Occasion
A Mexican Fiesta is a party. Not just a party, but also a festival, a carnival, and a myriad of music combined with a ton of food and drink. Many Mexican Fiestas last for days and usually take a year to organize.
Fiesta San Antonio is an annual event. Falling around April 21, Fiesta celebrations last for 10 days. For San Antonio natives, Fiesta honors the history, culture, and the heroes that defended the Alamo and battled at San Jacinto.
From the early roots of Fiesta until now the celebrations have blossomed into a grand scale operation. A commission of volunteers organizes year round to bring Fiesta San Antonio to fruition.
None of the events are government funded. The Fiesta Commission funds the events of some participating organizations through donations from private citizens, membership dues, corporate participation, and concession sales from the events. The Fiesta Commission also helps organize events that are self-supported.
The Battle of Flowers, one of Fiesta's largest parades, owes its beginnings to a group of local women. In 1891 these women adorned their carriages with flowers and paraded before the Alamo tossing flowers at each other. The women were commemorating the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place on April 21, 1836, and marked Texas winning independence from Mexico. To this day, the Battle of Flowers is still organized and directed by women.
In 1909 John Carrington spearheaded the Order of the Alamo. One of the earliest organizations, the Order of the Alamo members gathers once a year to select the royalty for the next year's festivities. Featured in many events, the court includes a queen, a princess, and 24 duchesses--12 locals and 12 from out of town.
No queen would be complete without her king. Throughout Fiesta San Antonio's history there has been King Cotton, King Selamat (tamales backwards), King Omala (Alamo backwards) and King Antonio. Early in Fiesta's roots there were years where kings were absent from the court. To solve this, John Carrington formed the Texas Cavaliers in 1926. One purpose of the Texas Cavaliers was to select the king.
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Web Posted: 04/26/2009 12:00 CDT
This was not the first year that Fiesta San Antonio (then known as Spring Carnival) had a queen, but it was the first time one was selected by the newly formed Order of the Alamo. John Baron Carrington, then freshly hired as executive secretary of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, "believed that one of his primary efforts should be to help develop Fiesta into an even larger and more important celebration," says Jack Maguire in "A Century of Fiesta in San Antonio."
To that end, this energetic promoter founded the Order of the Alamo, "the first all-male sodality with a single purpose: to plan and execute a specific aspect of Fiesta." The order, composed of "eminent young men," was formed "to select and direct the coronation and entertainment of the Queen and her court."
The revamped, Carrington-masterminded coronation of April 20, 1909, in Beethoven Hall, complete with carefully choreographed "court dances," promised to "eclipse in brilliance anything ever given in San Antonio," according to the Light.
The queen of the carnival was to be chosen from one of the announced belles: Julia Armstrong, Aileen Austin, Nana Davenport, Susan Blocker, Ella Carr, Miriam Clark, Zula Gaddis, Etta Hummel, Eda Kampmann (who became that year's queen), Mattie May Lowe and Winnifred Pollons.
Some Fiesta San Antonio History and Some Cocktails to Celebrate the Occasion
A Mexican Fiesta is a party. Not just a party, but also a festival, a carnival, and a myriad of music combined with a ton of food and drink. Many Mexican Fiestas last for days and usually take a year to organize.
Fiesta San Antonio is an annual event. Falling around April 21, Fiesta celebrations last for 10 days. For San Antonio natives, Fiesta honors the history, culture, and the heroes that defended the Alamo and battled at San Jacinto.
From the early roots of Fiesta until now the celebrations have blossomed into a grand scale operation. A commission of volunteers organizes year round to bring Fiesta San Antonio to fruition.
None of the events are government funded. The Fiesta Commission funds the events of some participating organizations through donations from private citizens, membership dues, corporate participation, and concession sales from the events. The Fiesta Commission also helps organize events that are self-supported.
The Battle of Flowers, one of Fiesta's largest parades, owes its beginnings to a group of local women. In 1891 these women adorned their carriages with flowers and paraded before the Alamo tossing flowers at each other. The women were commemorating the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place on April 21, 1836, and marked Texas winning independence from Mexico. To this day, the Battle of Flowers is still organized and directed by women.
In 1909 John Carrington spearheaded the Order of the Alamo. One of the earliest organizations, the Order of the Alamo members gathers once a year to select the royalty for the next year's festivities. Featured in many events, the court includes a queen, a princess, and 24 duchesses--12 locals and 12 from out of town.
No queen would be complete without her king. Throughout Fiesta San Antonio's history there has been King Cotton, King Selamat (tamales backwards), King Omala (Alamo backwards) and King Antonio. Early in Fiesta's roots there were years where kings were absent from the court. To solve this, John Carrington formed the Texas Cavaliers in 1926. One purpose of the Texas Cavaliers was to select the king.
-------------------------
Excerpt from Paula Allen
Web Posted: 04/26/2009 12:00 CDT
This was not the first year that Fiesta San Antonio (then known as Spring Carnival) had a queen, but it was the first time one was selected by the newly formed Order of the Alamo. John Baron Carrington, then freshly hired as executive secretary of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, "believed that one of his primary efforts should be to help develop Fiesta into an even larger and more important celebration," says Jack Maguire in "A Century of Fiesta in San Antonio."
To that end, this energetic promoter founded the Order of the Alamo, "the first all-male sodality with a single purpose: to plan and execute a specific aspect of Fiesta." The order, composed of "eminent young men," was formed "to select and direct the coronation and entertainment of the Queen and her court."
The revamped, Carrington-masterminded coronation of April 20, 1909, in Beethoven Hall, complete with carefully choreographed "court dances," promised to "eclipse in brilliance anything ever given in San Antonio," according to the Light.
The queen of the carnival was to be chosen from one of the announced belles: Julia Armstrong, Aileen Austin, Nana Davenport, Susan Blocker, Ella Carr, Miriam Clark, Zula Gaddis, Etta Hummel, Eda Kampmann (who became that year's queen), Mattie May Lowe and Winnifred Pollons.
Some Fiesta San Antonio History and Some Cocktails to Celebrate the Occasion
A Mexican Fiesta is a party. Not just a party, but also a festival, a carnival, and a myriad of music combined with a ton of food and drink. Many Mexican Fiestas last for days and usually take a year to organize.
Fiesta San Antonio is an annual event. Falling around April 21, Fiesta celebrations last for 10 days. For San Antonio natives, Fiesta honors the history, culture, and the heroes that defended the Alamo and battled at San Jacinto.
From the early roots of Fiesta until now the celebrations have blossomed into a grand scale operation. A commission of volunteers organizes year round to bring Fiesta San Antonio to fruition.
None of the events are government funded. The Fiesta Commission funds the events of some participating organizations through donations from private citizens, membership dues, corporate participation, and concession sales from the events. The Fiesta Commission also helps organize events that are self-supported.
The Battle of Flowers, one of Fiesta's largest parades, owes its beginnings to a group of local women. In 1891 these women adorned their carriages with flowers and paraded before the Alamo tossing flowers at each other. The women were commemorating the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place on April 21, 1836, and marked Texas winning independence from Mexico. To this day, the Battle of Flowers is still organized and directed by women.
In 1909 John Carrington spearheaded the Order of the Alamo. One of the earliest organizations, the Order of the Alamo members gathers once a year to select the royalty for the next year's festivities. Featured in many events, the court includes a queen, a princess, and 24 duchesses--12 locals and 12 from out of town.
No queen would be complete without her king. Throughout Fiesta San Antonio's history there has been King Cotton, King Selamat (tamales backwards), King Omala (Alamo backwards) and King Antonio. Early in Fiesta's roots there were years where kings were absent from the court. To solve this, John Carrington formed the Texas Cavaliers in 1926. One purpose of the Texas Cavaliers was to select the king.
-------------------------
Web Posted: 04/26/2009 12:00 CDT
This was not the first year that Fiesta San Antonio (then known as Spring Carnival) had a queen, but it was the first time one was selected by the newly formed Order of the Alamo. John Baron Carrington, then freshly hired as executive secretary of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, "believed that one of his primary efforts should be to help develop Fiesta into an even larger and more important celebration," says Jack Maguire in "A Century of Fiesta in San Antonio."
To that end, this energetic promoter founded the Order of the Alamo, "the first all-male sodality with a single purpose: to plan and execute a specific aspect of Fiesta." The order, composed of "eminent young men," was formed "to select and direct the coronation and entertainment of the Queen and her court."
The revamped, Carrington-masterminded coronation of April 20, 1909, in Beethoven Hall, complete with carefully choreographed "court dances," promised to "eclipse in brilliance anything ever given in San Antonio," according to the Light.
The queen of the carnival was to be chosen from one of the announced belles: Julia Armstrong, Aileen Austin, Nana Davenport, Susan Blocker, Ella Carr, Miriam Clark, Zula Gaddis, Etta Hummel, Eda Kampmann (who became that year's queen), Mattie May Lowe and Winnifred Pollons.
Some Fiesta San Antonio History and Some Cocktails to Celebrate the Occasion
A Mexican Fiesta is a party. Not just a party, but also a festival, a carnival, and a myriad of music combined with a ton of food and drink. Many Mexican Fiestas last for days and usually take a year to organize.
Fiesta San Antonio is an annual event. Falling around April 21, Fiesta celebrations last for 10 days. For San Antonio natives, Fiesta honors the history, culture, and the heroes that defended the Alamo and battled at San Jacinto.
From the early roots of Fiesta until now the celebrations have blossomed into a grand scale operation. A commission of volunteers organizes year round to bring Fiesta San Antonio to fruition.
None of the events are government funded. The Fiesta Commission funds the events of some participating organizations through donations from private citizens, membership dues, corporate participation, and concession sales from the events. The Fiesta Commission also helps organize events that are self-supported.
The Battle of Flowers, one of Fiesta's largest parades, owes its beginnings to a group of local women. In 1891 these women adorned their carriages with flowers and paraded before the Alamo tossing flowers at each other. The women were commemorating the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place on April 21, 1836, and marked Texas winning independence from Mexico. To this day, the Battle of Flowers is still organized and directed by women.
In 1909 John Carrington spearheaded the Order of the Alamo. One of the earliest organizations, the Order of the Alamo members gathers once a year to select the royalty for the next year's festivities. Featured in many events, the court includes a queen, a princess, and 24 duchesses--12 locals and 12 from out of town.
No queen would be complete without her king. Throughout Fiesta San Antonio's history there has been King Cotton, King Selamat (tamales backwards), King Omala (Alamo backwards) and King Antonio. Early in Fiesta's roots there were years where kings were absent from the court. To solve this, John Carrington formed the Texas Cavaliers in 1926. One purpose of the Texas Cavaliers was to select the king.
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