New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-21

that he is anxious OH this night Of nights TO
call upon them even at midnight to be awake
and to salute the happy morn" In the prin-
cipal churches of Madrid and Seville this midnight
mass in honor of the Dios Nino is rendered with
exquisite pastoral music, castanets and tambor-
ines playing an important part IN the orchestrss
while now and again by means of special instru-
ment pathetic and brdlike notes swell up with
peculiar beauty as il some midnight bird had
lent its voice to minge with the angelic songs
to herald in the mystic coming OF the BABE OF
Bethlehem. In the churches of the small pro.
vincial towns and villages the INSTRUMENTAL
bird notes are replaced by those of an Ordinary
rooster which by some device known 10 inc
peasants is mad, to crow at the appointed perioos
during the celebration
In certain parts Of Provence Christmas coh-
tinucs to be celebrated to this day by the famous
&" Feast of Asses" of medieval ages. Before the
CONGREGATION are admitted to the church huge
brazier ALL glowing with flames was placed IN the
centre of the nave upon the stone floor, ana
broad path from the west entrance to the high
altar at the eastern extremity Of the church Id
ropcd of. The ceremony begins with o pro-
cession of various minor Biblical personages Az
it's head walk two priests singing quaiht "io
Provencal hymn of praise interrupted az every
few words by cries Of Gloria from ther COM
panions When the procession reaches the cen..0
of the church six Jews step foOvard on one sioe
and six Gentiles on the other, two Vocatores
stand between them, while the rest OF the pro-
cessionsts range themselves in groups AROUND.
The Lord is made man., the Gentiles exciaim'
The Vocatores appeal to the Jews TO conhrm
this statement.
Prove that we are to govern you,' scornfuiy
retOrt the Jews
The Vocatores then summon the prophets ana
awgivers of the Old Testament to come ana
overwhelm the Jews by bearing witness 10 INC
infant Christ.
One by one these great personages OF
antiquity, in obedience to the call OF the vo'
catores, thereupon slowly advance up the aisle,
pause for a moment in the full glare Of the light
cast by the fiery cadldron and then pass on into
the gloom Some Of them speak, while Others
only bow to the Vocatores. The first to respond
TO the summons of the latter is invariably Moses,
bearing in one hand the Tables OF the Law, ana
in the other rod. lie has long beard, wears
an alb and a cope, and couple OF horns on Ms
forehead Aaron is dressed in full pontincais
with a mitre Isaiah has scarlet stole across his
brow, while the most beautiful youth OF the
locality is invariably selected to represent Daniel
The principal figure Of the procession however, is
Balaam, since it is from his donkey that the
feast takes it's name. BALKAN rides up the aisle
on a heavily caparisoned ass. When about half
way up the church a young man with flowing
yellow hair and dressed all in white would spring
into his path waving cleaning sword In the
air. The donkey stops short, whereupon it's rider
begins to beat it vigorously. A child who has
meanwhile crept in under the voluminous trap
pings of the animal now cries out in piteous
voice. why do you hurt me sop
The scene as described in the Bible then follows,
after which the angel goes his way with a parting
admontion to Balaam to have no dealings with
Balak
The last parsonage to enter is usually Judas, who
constitutes the tragical character of this quaint
old festival and who delivers most pathetic dis
course. On its termination prophets, saints, jews
Genties, VocatOfes and the congregation all unite
in one long hymn of praise, exulting IN the TIL
umph of Christ and the discontinue of unbellevers.
The benediction thereupon- brings to close the
time-honored Feast Of Asses.
Most of the readers of The Tribune will have
seen either paintings or prints OF the mass
celebrated in all Catholic countries Of Europe on
St. Huberts day for the benefit of the hounds.
The baying packs are held in leash at the
church door. and at a given moment during the
mass the celebrant priest attended by his AGO.
lytes and choristers and followed by the entire
sprinlsling the dogs with holy water. solemnly
inyokes the blessing of Providence upon their
heads Nowhere is this ceremony celebrated
every year with greater magnificence than
AT the Duke of Aumale's Palace OF Chan
tilly. where the blessing is usually administered
bv some Archbishop great dignltaly OF the
Church.
Al the ancient church Of st. Michael at Schwatz
in the Tyrol, the sacred edifce is invariably kept
securely closed on the evening before every greas
festival and the people of the district are con-
WINGED that on these occasions, when no one Is
present, an immense toad comes crawling Deiore
the altar where it Sneels and prays, weeping DIV
terly No one ever hurts toad In the lyroi'
for the population are imbued with the pehei tna'
,oads are. for the most part, good Christians who
have made vows to go on pllgrlmages' ana VIZ"
have died without fulfilling their vows. 80 the
DOOR creatures go hopping about astray bewildered
and perplexed striving 10 find their way TO shrines
which lave perchance long since ceased 10 exist.
| There are some who may be tempted 10 lau4n q.
this queer dea but TO my mind u Is one Oh inuch
pathos. and productive of good since it prevents
cruelty to the poor despised toad IL Is an9st as
pretty a belief as that current among us Eu, ~.
pean pcasantry 10 the effect that the robins are
indebted for their red breasts to their enoris 70
pluck the nails from The hands ana iest ana 'ne
thorns from the brow OF the crucifea IRris..
Another quaint belief prevalent in Devonshire,
Cornwall and in the west of France is that an
domestic animals possess the power OF speech az
midnight on Christmas eve, when the cattle anu
the Nativity according to the account Of the origi'
nal OK, ass and sheep, which were pres mt IN ins
stable at Bethlehem when the Messiah
ever who are free from mortal SIN are
supposed to be able to understand the utter utter.
and Rra,on ncasantry are likewise convinced that
at midnight on Christmas eve the cattle In their
stalls fall down and worship the infant r ohslss
and that the bees in their hives sing paa's ~:
| Throughout the entire north OF Europe tne
peasants are imbued with the belief that the birds
are aware Of the sacred character Of the Christina;
IN front Of every cottage OH the night Of December
"a, ' t" the summit Of which is fastened sheaf
Of oats for the little birds TO eat so NAV