The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-04-19
AN EASTERN FESTIVAL.
The Annual Celebration of tho Finding OF
the True Gross.


The Annual Celebration of tho Finding OF
the True Gross.
Early in the autumn, all over Syria
and the East, is celebrating the finding
of the True Cross by the Empress
Helena.
You know the legend-how leaving
her palace in ConstantinopIe the En-
press set sail for the Holy Land. AL
along the coast huge watchfircs were
built and relays ofwatchers appointed.
As soon as her search was rewarded
the light on the nearest hilltop blazed
forth the glad tidings, and as if lighted
by the magic touch OF -wift-hying
angel one hin after another caught W
and carried forward the news from
one end Of Syria TO tho other, across
Asia Minor, and the Bosporus until
the answering shout of JOY rang within
the palace walls ut ConstantinopIe
Joy, JOY! Tho Cross is foundr'
Now, hundreds OF years later, whe
the telegraph wires spread news e..
joy faster than the old system OF watcl
fires, we here in the East yearl
gather round a Iuddy blaze TO cell
brate this search and hold q fcstiva
with songs.
Right below our Mount Lcbanor
home in an opcn field was q long fla
rock especially dedicated TO use at thi
festival. All the children Of the Vi
lage for days beforehand would clim
the high mountain slopes back OF th
village in every direction for bcllan o.
o. n
our rock we would first build q high
tower Of sticks, mostly abstractcd by
stealth, from the woodpiles at home.
Around this, and overtopping IL, the
bundles of thorns were piled-a cord
at last being wound spirally around 20
keep all in place. just as soon as 1t
was dark-and how eagerly We
watched for the time 10 come-wo
would all gather around, forming a
circle, and dance until our leader
chosen as having contributed most
toward the bonfire, would set fire to the
pile. Famed by the evening breez1
it would almost Immediately shoot u1
into huge pyramid of flame, scatt PEE
ing sparks in all directions and giving
active employment to the older ones
il preventing the ventursome lit Ia
ones from making martyrs OF them
selves in their excitement As tho
thorns burnt up we repleuishod them
from ueighboring reserve piles.
When all but the largest logs at the
center and base had been consumed VIC
would again form a circle and lh1
madLest, mcrris-l time would then ec-
We would iucitc one another 10 brave
the flames and jump through. or over.
the wide bed OF live Goals. The Older
ones leading, one and another would
break away from our circle. leap
across, rcjOiniug il ut the other side
with our bare feet and simrIg blue
dyed cotton garments this meant SEE
we're burns and much danger for H..
circle Of ltTe was q wide one, and tic
hot brands and ashes wcro sprcaE
about IN an directions; but he was in
deed p coward who before tho over
ing's close had not attempted and az
conplizLcd the feat-uot once, but sew
cral times.
At the close of the evening We
would end our feast by partlEiug o.
little cakes baked with oil and sweet
eued with honey. Then joining hand
for the last time around the dying cu-
bors wo would repeat an invocation to
the clouds TO send us rain once more.
and to the earth 10 reopen her
springs, TO refresh the thirsty soil
From April TO October we rarely have
Il drop of rain about Mount Lebanon.
told them that the early autumn rains
waited for the Empress Helena TO uo-
complish her crrand lest They should
CnlangUr the success Of her watCh-.ra
signals, and that year by year since
the rains wait fou this festival, les.
they should cxtinguish the memoria.
flames.
In later years we have often climbaa
to the very top OF the high mountain
near Us 80 watch the ncighboriug
villages. As many as thirty or forty
bOudrcs could be seen from this point.
al along the sea coast. on nci.lbcg.
ing slopes, and mp d long valley which
opens toward the east Every lift
hamlet-even the shccDfolds some
times sent forth q light into tho SUI
rounding darkness. The whole dan.
cxPanse below, as weH rs tho SIX
above, would be ablazc with sparkliu
points OF light and the effect was nc
one to be easily forgotten.
So Little of pleasure comes into &,
life OF Il child in our downtroddcn q,
unhappy land that my thing that cc
meets happiness and 10Y with the u