[Noozhawk’s note: One in a daily series leading up to Old Spanish Days Fiesta.]
Saint Barbara is an iconic part of Santa Barbara’s annual Old Spanish Days Fiesta.
From opening night at the Santa Barbara Mission, to the historical parade on Friday, to countless Fiesta appearances throughout our community, Saint Barbara represents tradition, culture and history.
Reina del Mar Parlor No. 126, part of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, selected the first local resident to portray Saint Barbara during Fiesta in 1926.
In all, 95 individuals have portrayed Saint Barbara in our community.
Caroline Wedderburn is Saint Barbara during this year’s 100th Anniversary Fiesta.
The use of Saint Barbara as a name first appeared locally 422 years ago.
In 1602, it was Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno who named the waters between our coast and the islands, the Santa Barbara Channel. Vizcaíno was traveling along the California coast by ship in search of safe ocean harbors for eventual Spanish settlements.
180 years later, in 1782, our Presidio was founded as El Presidio de Santa Bárbara, the Royal Presidio.
The mission naming as la Misión de Santa Barbara was next in 1786, followed eventually by the city and the county of Santa Barbara.
All five — the Channel, the Presidio, the Mission, the city and the county — were named in honor of Saint Barbara, who is the patron saint of architects, builders and stone masons, and the protectress against sudden death from either fire, earthquake, flood or lightning.
“The parlor has chosen to recognize Saint Barbara each year,” said Mary Louise Days, who was selected Saint Barbara in 1965.
“She rides on the parade float by herself, and our organization takes great pride in maintaining the float, which is a symbol of Santa Barbara and covers all corners of our community.”
The first local Saint Barbara portrayed the patron saint for two consecutive years. Kate Ord Nelson, a descendant of the last Spanish Presidio Comandante José De la Guerra, was our first Saint Barbara (1926 and 1927). Every year since, a Saint Barbara has been selected except during the four years of World War II (1942-1945).
In 1931 there were actually two Saint Barbaras, one selected for Fiesta (Teresa de Piazzi Janssens) and another (Catherine Lataillade, a De la Guerra descendant) selected to represent Santa Barbara during California Admission Day ceremonies in Los Angeles.
Every Sept. 9, Admission Day was organized to recognize the day in 1850 that California, as a state, joined the union of the United States of America.
The selection of Saint Barbara often has been an unplanned family affair. Over the years, there have been several mothers and daughters selected as Saint Barbara in different years.
There has even been one grandmother-daughter-grandaughter trio.
In 1954, Helen Latham (Cornell) portrayed Saint Barbara, followed by her daughter, Kim Cornell (Baumbaugh), in 1978.
Diana Russell (Vandervoort) was Saint Barbara in 1968 and her daughter, Thea Vandervoort (Palencia), served in 2007.
In 1972, Janelle Bell was selected Saint Barbara, followed by her daughter, Lynda Bell, in 1981.
In 1974, Imelda Ramirez portrayed Saint Barbara, and her daughter, Veronica Ramirez, (Gonzales) followed just two years later in 1976.
And C. Linda Tomero was Saint Barbara in 1987; her daughter, Lori Romero Kim, followed in 1991.
There have been three generations of Saint Barbaras in the Dominquez family. Betty Dominguez portrayed our patron saint in 2002, and she actually followed her daughter, Gloria, who had been Saint Barbara two years prior in 2000.
In 2008, Betty’s granddaughter, Rebecca Dominguez (Broadfoot), was also selected to portray our patron saint.
Patricia Oreña was Saint Barbara in 2021.
“When I was asked to portray Saint Barbara I was very honored,” she said. “There are no words to describe it.
“Being from here and having grown up seeing Saint Barbara portrayed in the parade and on the Pequeña stage, it was just a wonderful honor.”
Fiesta 2024 runs July 31-Aug. 4. An exhibit on Fiesta’s Centennial — Project Fiesta! — is on display at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, 136 E. De la Guerra St.
Click here for a complete calendar of Fiesta events.
¡Viva el Centenario!
