Many Texans may not know that Fiesta San Antonio, one of Texas’ oldest and most celebrated festivals, began with a literal “flower fight”— a parade called the Battle of Flowers, first hosted on April 21, 1891. The Battle of Flowers was organized by several San Antonio women, led by Ellen Maury Slayden, wife of Congressman James L. Slayden, who had seen a similar parade on a visit to Spain and wanted to start the tradition in San Antonio to honor the heroes who fought in the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto. The ladies assembled the Battle of Flowers Parade Committee, garnered support from local leaders, and began planning the first parade.
The first Battle of Flowers Parade included carriages and floats covered in fresh flowers. The procession was divided in two, with each half traveling toward each other, unlike a typical parade’s succession. Each side tossed flowers at the other as they passed. Within just four years’ time the parade had expanded into a weeklong festival. The first Queen and King were chosen in 1896 and 1897, respectively. Soon, the King and Queen were supported by a full royal court, including a princess, duchesses, and other members of the court. In 1909 the Order of the Alamo was established by John Carrington to oversee certain aspects of the celebration, and to officially select the royal members from San Antonio and the surrounding communities. By 1915, the parade had grown too large to outfit each float in fresh flowers, and artificial flowers were used in their place.
Soon, several other events were added to the official schedule including balls, a carnival, and coronation ceremonies. In 1925, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas began a tradition still observed today—the Pilgrimage to the Alamo. Several patriotic, military, and school organizations march solemnly to the Alamo, while the names of the men who fought in the Battle of Alamo are read aloud from within the walls.
In 1945, the San Antonio Conservation Society began hosting ‘Night in Old San Antonio,’ a colorful recreation of life in early San Antonio with authentic costumes and customs. ‘Night in Old San Antonio’ continues to be celebrated today, hosted on four consecutive nights in La Villita on the south bank of the San Antonio River, which is considered San Antonio’s first neighborhood and is listed on the National Register of Historic Districts.
As the celebrations continued to attract more revelers, the weeklong festivities were officially coined Fiesta San Antonio in 1959, when the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce organized the Fiesta San Antonio Commission to oversee the week’s events.
Today, members of the Battle of Flowers Association, which remains an all-female organization dedicated to promoting the history and patriotic traditions of San Antonio and Texas, wear yellow dresses and hats to the annual parade. The parade, the centerpiece of Fiesta San Antonio, has been held every year since 1891, with the exception of war times. It is the only parade in the country to be completely organized and planned by women. Today’s parade includes 40 flower-covered floats, horse-drawn carriages, and several military, college, and high school bands.
As a San Antonio native and the son of a decorated veteran, I have had the privilege of enjoying many Fiestas over the years. In 2008 I was honored to be a guest speaker at the opening ceremony.* I have a deep appreciation for the San Antonians who carry out this important tradition with such careful attention to detail each year. These include many local nonprofit organizations, such as church, military and student groups, who work together with members of the Fiesta San Antonio Commission and more than 75,000 volunteers to carry out more than 100 events over the 11-day celebration. These men and women make every effort to ensure it is a top-notch celebration for the thousands who participate and a fitting tribute to the many veterans who have sacrificed for our freedoms since the days of the Alamo. For more information on this year’s schedule of events, visit www.fiesta-sa.org.
Sources: Battle of Flowers Association; Fiesta San Antonio Commission; Texas State Historical Association
