LA MERIENDA

Monterey's Birthday Party

  The Merienda, Monterey's birthday party, is a colorful fiesta of delicious foods, red wine, gallant dons, lovely senoritas, lively music and festive dance. Traditionally held in the Memory Garden in the patio of the Old Pacific House, a State Historical Monument, it is the gem of the Monterey History and Art Association's annual celebrations. It takes place on the Saturday nearest to June 3, the day in 1770 on which Padre Junipero Serra, father of the California missions, and Captain Gaspar de Portola, a Spanish military leader, joined forces to establish the pueblo of Monterey, California's first Capital. The first modern Merienda was celebrated in 1929, two years before the formation of the Monterey History and Art Association. A ceremony at Colton Hall and a small luncheon at the Memory Garden marked the occasion. It was presided over by Carmel Martin and Harry Greene. The next year, 350 people joined Carmel Martin, who again acted as Master of Ceremonies, in the Memory Garden and once again celebrated Monterey's birthday. A story in The Monterey Herald recorded that, "The happy group joined in a gala fête amid surroundings that recreated in vivid fashion the scenes of beauty and romance traditional of early California. Memory Garden with its sunbathed walls and profusion of blooms, its sparkling fountains and its rustic pergola, its balconies and its other features so typical of the city whose origin was being celebrated again resounded to the tinkle of guitars, the soft syllables of the Spanish tongue, and the low-voiced laughter of handsome senors and lovely senoritas, while true Spanish viands graced the tables made colorful by linen of varied tints." Thanks to the wisdom of numerous hard-working Merienda chairmen nothing has changed, except that the number of celebrants has grown significantly. It was in 1939 that a lovely senorita was chosen to reign over the festivities for the first time. A long line of senoritas, usually with family history back to Old California, has graced the Merienda every year since. The recipient of the Association's most prestigious award, the Laura Bride Powers Award, is announced at the Merienda. The award is named after the woman who is credited with conceiving both the idea of the Association and the Merienda celebration, which antedated MHA A's founding. Mrs. Powers was the Curator of the Museum and an ardent student of California history. For many years before his death in 1983, the Reverend Lawrence Farrell served as perennial chaplain for the Merienda. Father Farrell's historically based invocations were always a highlight of the fiesta. With local musicians and dancers and good food and fellowship, the Merienda has always been a favorite Monterey celebration. In 1940, The Herald reported, "With a gay song, a smile and toss of her pretty head, Monterey today celebrated her 170th birthday. No dark-eyed senorita could have been the recipient of more compliments or blushed more prettily." from the Monterey History and Art Association 75th Anniversary book