The 92nd Festa do Espirito Santo de Manteca otherwise known as the Holy Ghost – or Holy Spirit – Festa is currently underway.

The longtime Portuguese tradition is having the recitation of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. from now through the upcoming weekend.

The annual Festa will be held at FESM Hall, 230 N. Main St. and will again include plenty of food – Sopa and meat meals, and sweet bread – along with a parade and a Sunday mass celebration conducted by Bishop Myron J. Cotta at the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 505 E. North St. during the weekend of July 13-14.

A blessing of the meat will take place at noon Friday, July 12, at the FESM Hall.

This year’s “Presidente” will be Andrew and Elizabeth Melo – “Vice Presidente” will be Blake & Stephanie Gonzalves, “Secretario” is Kim Bettencourt, “Tesoureira” is Melissa & Carlos Gaspar, and “Marshal” is Paula & Linda Brito.

Listed as this year’s “Rainha Grande” or Big Queen is Saphira Melo, who is joined by Caroline Vieira and Riley Miranda.

Cassisa Melo is the “Rainha Pequena.” The Little Side Maids are Madilyn Coelho and Kaylee Fernandes.

The “Rei” is Andre Melo.

The tradition of Festas dates back to 1269 with Queen Isabel, who was seen with roses in one hand a small loaf of bread on the other.

Festas, locally, are held on weekends from April through August in areas settled by early immigrants from Portugal and the Azores Islands.