The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-20
THE FETE DIEU.

In some roman CNJnOllC countries, corpus
Christi Day. which falls on the first Thursday
after Trinity Sunday, and therefore, during
the present year, on the goth OF June,
Is the occasion OF great festival known
as the Bete Dieu. THIS is not so generally cele-
brated now as it was in former times, but in all
the cities of Belgium, and in Marseilles, Avig-
non, and other southern towns of France, the
festival is still observed with great deal of
circumstance and pomp. When sojourner
in one of these cities rises in the morning, 1t is
with difficulty that he can account for the
almost miraculous change which the place has
undergone during the course of the previous
night The streets, from end to end are deco
rated with festoons and garlands of evergreens,
flowers, and variegated paper, and awnings are
stretched from side to side to protect the
people from the scorching rays of the
sun. very grotesque effect is impaired
to the fronts of the houses, which
are set off by tapestry, coverlets, carpets, and
curtains Of all imaginable descriptions, arranged
in fantastic order Sometimes this task is en-
trusted to the professional upholsterer, and then
very pleasing effect is given by the taste and
system displayed in arranging the hangings.
The principal feature of the day is to be pro-
cession, which starts from one OF the churches,
about which the people are congregating in
great crowds. To add 10 the lIvellness of the
scene, the bell in every steeple sends forth
merry peal, ard those who do not intend to par
ficipate in the procession are at their windows
and doors, to witness the anticipated pageant.
When the procession is arranged in order,
the sound OF a drum announces its approach,
and every one is then on tp-toe, to gain bet
ter view than his neighbors AT tue head of
the procession march the C0ntrerLeS, or beneh-
Cial societies, consisting of men, women and
children, who sometimes turn out to tue num-
ber of several hundred. AT the head of eacn
one of these societies. Is stationed the principal
officer, decorated with ribbons and medals
without number. The children form very
attractive feature in this portion of the process
sion. They are dressed in simple white muslin,
with fowery crowns upon their heads, and
their hair hanging about their shoulders III
loose curls. Each one is also provided with a
basket of flowers, decorated with blue ribbons.
Some of the children are intended to represent
various characters. Those boasting of the long
est haIr aIe considered Magdalens; others re-
present virgins, one OF them being attlred in
deep black, with long Grape veil, and bearing
on her bosom large black heart, transdxed
with silver darts; while four boys usually repre-
sent the four evangelists, by diligently writing,
as they go, in large books, with Old-fashioned
pens of reed.
Following the people come the monastic and
secular clergy, with here and there band of
music. Near the end appears choir of girls,
attired very elegantly IN tarletan dresses and
long Veils and set off by crowns. Last of all
comes the priest OF highest rank, carrying the
Holy Sacrament, and walking under gorgeous
canopy, to which gold, silk, velvet, and feathers
lend all their numerous charms. Surrounding
the bearer of the consecrated Hest are cardi-
mails and priests in splendid dresses, and white
robed acolytes, who fill the air with clouds OF
incense from the censers which they swing in
their hands. AS the canopy and its surround
ings approach, the people run forward, and
cast before it baskets of poppies and other
flowers, and then fall devoutly on their knees
as the Sacrament IS bore past them, the clergy
meanwhile chanting the Litany in deep and
solemn strains.
This attractive procession marches through
the principal streets of the town, and then
returns to the church from which il started the
latter being gaily decorated and illuminated for
the occasion. AS the procession enters, the
organ sends forth its lOudest peals, to the
ophicleides; and, amid all this melodous
uproar, the Host is restored to its accustomed
place on the high altar.
To some extent, the ceremonies connected
with the Fete Dieu are kept up throughout the
week, the poor children OF the town maintain
ing at the street corners little tables, covered
with napkins and supporting some lighted
tapers and a few plaster images OF the Virgin
Mary or some of the saints. As the people pass,
the children cry out, do not forget the little
chapel" These tables, or Chapels, as the chill
dren style them, are relics Of former days, in
which II was the custom for the procession TO
halt at galy decorated chapels on the line of
march, and there celebrate the mass in the
open air. In this country, the day is duly OBJ
served as a holiday by the Catholic portion of
tine population, but no such scenes are wit
messed as occur every year in Belgium and the
south OF France.