San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-23
THE NATIVITY.
THE SACRED VIGIL OF THE
MEXICANS.
How Kept BY the Traditional Pas
torres Bands and Where
Located.

bbSatCus
With the beginning of Advent
every year our Mexican citizens make
preparations for the celebration Of
their time honored tradition of the
Pastores (Shepherds). This has been
described and written about for many
years by various writer's both of this
city and in old Mexico. For the bene-
fit of the strangers within our gates a
LIGHT reporter and friend sailed
forth last night and visited the Mexi-
can portion of our city, west of the
San Pedro, and in that portion located
on Pecos, San Saba, Laredo and other
adjacent streets. Bright lanterns sus-
pended on poles at each dwelling
proclaimed the presence OF the pas
torres band, or hung as an invitation
to light the Christ and his followers,
the Magi. The lantern is symbolical
of the Eastern star, which lighted
their steps toward the mapger. The
pastores is the story of the birth of
the Saviour, and is partly the story of
the crucifixion.
The performance, which Is now be.
ing rebesrsed in San Antonio, con-
sists of fifteen players, consisting of
Joseph and Mary and the infant
Jesus, two arch angels, LHcifer and
three of his minions and q number of
shepherds. The costumes are adapted
to the Mexican conception of the
characters, and are novel in the eX-
treme. All of the costumes are got
ten up tastetully, and while q strict
conformance with the requirements
of the first century might rob Joseph
of his sombrero and Mary of her
reboso, still it is doubtful If the les.
son which 1t is desired to instil in
the minds of the people would be as
effective If all the minor details of the
early Jewish fashions were complied
with.
The scene of the play opens near
Bethlehem, where the shepherds are
tending their fiocks, by q host of
angels appearing and telling them Of
| the birth of the Savior and inviting
them to follow to where he lay. They
follow the star which leads them to
| the stable, in the mapger Of which
the infant rests in the arms of Mary
and Joseph. Whilst rejoicing, Lu.
offer, armed with two sN ords, appears
| and attempts TO destroy the child
Jesus, but is repulsed By two angels,
who keep watch over him. Not 10 he
| on tdone, Luciter summons three arch
demons, who fight with the angels
or the course of half an hour resulting
| in the final overthrow OF the evil one
| and his emissaries and the placing of
the feet of the angels upon their
necks.
Then the Psstores break out into
rejoicing, and whilst portion of
them sing the praises of the Redeem
! or who is born unto them, others
chant in harmonious strain the good.
ness and mercy OF God. This feature,
accompanied by music on the harp
and violin, is kept up until a late
hour OF the night, to be repeated
each succeeding night until the Ep-
iphany, Jan. 6.
One must understand the Mexican
people and their devoutness and in
tense religious feeling to fully ap-
preciate how strongly the presentation
of the Pastoros affects their minds
Their very souls seem poured out in
their devOtions, and to their simple
minds heaven seems to be very near.
Some years ago the story of the
cruciixiOn was given, but a repetition
Of the play was never attempted.
Hhe mixture Of true worship with
fanaticisms and idolatry was too
great, and the excitement which the
portrayal created was such as to
bring it in disfavor.
A statue to represent the Saviour
was procured and the trial, conviction
and final crucifixion were wildly
presented. Then the three days In
which he lay in the tomb were spent
i'm fasting and prayer so strict that
all kinds of business was suspended.
The church, or house, where the
body lay was crowded day and night
with eager suppliants for divine ia
vors Old men and women would bow
down for hours beside the coffin in
which the statue Of Jesus lay and i'm
plore the granting of some specific
object or request. During these three
days if a child should speak cross or
evil word or do an unkiud act it would
be reminded that Jesus was the re-
cipient of the wrong. If q stone was
thrown or any object touched violent
ly the children were told that Jesus
was the sufferer. Finally the nearing
the resurrection came and the church,
which before was draped in black,
suddenly as IL by magic APP
peared gaily bedecked with
flowers and elnblems of rejoicing.
The people who, for three days, had
scarcely ate or slept, and whose entire
time had been spent in apparent real
grief and sorrow, with the first It'd.
ings of the resurrection threw off their |
..iv,,o,,fa ~ SorrOuy and of Onaa "a.