New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-21
HOLY WEEK IN SPAIN.
sr1rrrAEvAL IDEAS AND CUSTOMS SCENES
In MADRID. y

me sspect Of Madrid, and in fact Of all otner
gpanjsh cities, during the holy Week is o. .
nasare which carries one back to the mluor
asrs So curious are the various ceremopn@
which take place during the eight days pieco"ns
Esafer that large parties of tourists WHICH 'iiAo
xxar inc]nde a number Of weii-Kno"n Ne"-
yorker. visit the Peninsula for the purpoS =,
,wjtnessing them. From Thursday evening UNA
sunday morning no carriage, cart tramcar VI
omnibus is allowed in the streets. All one senu-
nels and troops when on duty carry tneir arms
,eversstl as II at o funeral, and the ofhcers nave
- :, -, t,.,, svvord.hilts and epaulettes women
a. an classes are dressed in sable hues, ana wear
a. Natianal mantilla Music and the N'una OIL
sall. n forbidden during the whole oil ts PASSION
Weex On Thursday. Friday. and Saturday strice
fsst 4. ohseryed from one end OF the country
!. a.. o.l., and during these three days more
sh.n . GOO men. dressed in long white linen reoes'
,~;tb white linen wells, pierced with three hoies
s~. The mouth and eyes, drawn over their 1aoes'
patroI thu streets Of Madrid and Seville carry
ins crosses and lighted wax-Sapers IN their hi'nos
ana chanting psalms. A.,
On the last three days OF Lent the Arch
bishop Of Madrid, followed by hundreds OF pr,essA
uaf,xs in procession once day through all 'l'e
ebief .hoYotrhfares Of the CITY. sprinkhng hoV
vvater ON the crowd assembled there ana pf"yrne
IN a loud tone of voice for the people, 1no
PROCESSION. which is composed OF monKs pfieS'e
ana members OF various religious orders Is o,..
svo miles In length; and Filters oraiTu VIZ
eoyd embroidered red velvet bearing inc woo.sA
ip,arss Of saints are carried by men nreo Ior U..
purpcse who are gorgeously attircd IN nieui"e,"
costumes In front march twentS-iour AO~ ns's
s.rrviug on their shoulders the statue oi ou'
fAdy of Almudena, the patron SAINT Oh MAUI l.1-
This statue is literally ablaze with superb -
lent for the occasion by the Queen anu "u .ns
ladies Of the aristocracy, who deem ~ on HO ~.
ana privilege to be allowed to send tie -,
eo.ffv gems 60 adorn the image OF the virgin
m the head Of tho statue sparkles the queen
nrcvu, and around its neck, arms and ankles
=. airing after string of priceless pearls, cnain'
~ onorrnous diamonds, collars OF emeraius' sap
sS,,rs. ana rubies, which fairly dazzle the eye
:. i q borne along in the brilliant Southern sun
light errrs around
xbs oecl. Of Our Lady of Almudena IS ring wnlch
bsars n curious connection to the mlsiorrun us
which have afflicted the royal house OF opnn
49,. ,ha last Two decades. 1t is magnificent
~,..l s,,-rouuded nv diamonds The hte Ming
,aI,o,so XII cave it to his cousin hercedes
.h.r he was betrothed TO her, and sne wore 10
a,r;ng the whole of her short married NE on
her death the King presented 1t 10 MS sranur
natber. the Queen Christina. who dieo soon aiOol
Theu jt passed to the Kings sister, tne lni"n INC
aei Pillar The latter OF once began 70 sioNeN' 60
4, !. ,e,v DAYS breathed her last. Alfonso then
n.s.s a. tn his sister-in-lnw, Christina, the
..s,,,,rsss dan hter of the Duke OF Montpcnser
bnt IN three months she also was dead. his
sf.,sstv now resolved to retain the baieiui lewei
~ h;s o,vu keeping; but he, too soon fell Vlctin
~ i'm mysterious malignancy. BY order OF inc
.,r..ent Queen it has now been suspended oy
chain around the neck of the virgin OF Alm"oens'
In front of the Palace Of the Cortes largo
-,.,to-r, is erected for the Queen and the men,
herx af the Court. As the procession advances
-, the occupants OF the grand stand fall on tneif
tp.es and remain in that position until tne las'
- shs uageant has gone by. Occasionally TOT
.;,rers refuse TO uncover and kneel Wheh tne
rroaession passes Last year it was an Ehgilsn,
,nat, from Manchester who deemed " uhu'sn,neU
"a follow tire example Of the crowd among "no'u
IA s.ood in the streets in Seville. Two gendafmeS
Immediately advanced toward MN WIN ui% -
srords and in q threatening manner ordered MN
:. -, - remove his hat. On perceiving their
,,.nac5ny attitude the worthy BritOn squared up
his fists and prepared to receive his assaiants IN
.e.o,6a,ee with the rules of the MARQUIS OF
opesnsberry. lie was. however, at once seiEeo oS
the crowd who forced him down on his knees, anu
,hen h;exed and pounded him into unconscious
reea convinced that in SO dong they "ere "o-
eompashing an act pleasing 70 the Church
4 eurious ceremony takes place on Good Frlaay
a moan In the Throne-room Of the hoyai Fsmcc
- Madrid This ceremony is observed ID COM
incarceration Of Christ's washing the tcet Oh ~o
AuostIss Twelve old people are prougaV Oeioi.
tbe Queen. who, assisted by the Grand Mistfess Vi
the Robes kneels before them IN turn ANU "'p
ming richly embroidered Six tower III a soiu
basin. washes their feet. They are prcfenUeo ~e.i
s,,,s az clothes purses OF money and huge oasKets
- ,.,y,siens at the conclusion of the ceremony,
which ali the members Of the Court are inNl'eu
to attend
an tho same day, in accordance with pions
tradition. the Minister OF Justice submits lor uhe
nesns signature the free and full pardon OF three
veSsoners living under sentence oil dcath lhese
dacurnents are placed on table in front OF the
h;sb altar Of the palace chapel, and at the end
- 81. vespers the Court Chaplain, approaching
AZ. sovereign, pronounces these words:
MADAME, does Your Majesty grant her pardon
10 these criminals?'
az uardon them, so that God may pardon me-
answers the Queen Regent.
In every church tables draped with piacK veiVe'
ana bearing gold end silver plates engraVeu WIZ
srlendid armoxial bearings are presided over oy
LIZ belonging to the very highest ranks Of
scrictx who every now and then give the money
q TIE plates slight rattle in order to attract TIM
ssssr,nrs Of the faithful. few days previously
go ,aSies in question send out engraved cards Il
III 80 friepds and acquaintance who figure OF
ss.,r visiting lists, informing them that they WI
'.sss,de AZ the ofertory tables in such and such
ssss,.eh And woe betide the senior who fails
,.s,sa, AZ the church mentioned and to deposit hi
ssg,vinu on the plate lie can be certain that th'
s~xt fine he calls at his fair friends paiazzo Uni
porter will inform him that the sonora does noe e
eeiyc. The final function OF the hoy week .aS.
psace on the Saturday night. when in sle ailus
lIchsed churches weird ana piainuVe HSeee
IS chnnted by the clergy, choris'erS anu eo"er's"
slpn. =. sv.tr :,