The herald., 1896-04-22

Alone of all the ancient nations the
Persians had no festivals, as they had
no temples and no common worship.
The "Puritans of Polytheism" worship
ped the sun only, as the visible m ,nifcs-
tatior of Deity, and his representative
on earth, fire; scorned show and pomp
and large religious gatherings as being
contrary to the spirit Of the teachings OF
their great master, Zoroaster
A striking contrast to them was found
upon the discovery of the American con-
tinent, when the ancient Mexicans. who
were remarkable for the perfection of
their calendar, were found to possess
an elaborate system Of movable feasts
distributed over the year. The most i'm
portant was that in honor Of their gods,
Tezcatlipoca, Hintzilopochtli and Tia
loc, held in May. June and December.
The Peruvians observed a feast at
each new moon, and four solar festivals
OF these the most important was the
Yntip-Kayni (sun-feast) which, pre-
ceded by g. three-days fast, began with
the summer solstice and lasted f1I nine
days.
The Hindoos and Buddhists, the Chin
ese. the Greeks and Romans, JewA and
early Christians all observed feasts
which in their origin were based on
solar combined with religious observ-
ance. Attempts have at various times
been made to reorganize the system of
festivals on other than religious basis.
and most notably during the French
revolution. An elaborate list was pre-
pared and days set apart to the Supreme
Being. to nature. to the martyrs Of free
dom. hatred of tyrants. truth, Justice.
modesty, love. conjugal fidelity, etc.
These various characteristics not pre-
eminently distinguishing the active
participants in the bloody rebellion
against the accumulated tyrannies of
the age. the plan was not adopted.
ORIGIN OF LA FIESTA.
La Fiesta de Los Angeles is the evolu-
lutionary product of that particular fes-
tival genericly known as the "Carnivar'
and observed with many curious cere-
monies and considerable display, more
particularly in Italy and Spain. The Or
igin Of the word carnival. like the pre-
ceding one Of Festival" is in dispute.
The most natural form of the Latin
term "carnisprivium," intended to ex-
press farewell to flesh meat"-carni-
vale. 1t Is contended, however, that the
word was originally Identical with Car
nalia," indicating an origin much earlier
than any ecclesiastical observance.
The italian festival originally began
on the feast Of Epiphany and continued
to Ash Wednesday, when the fast of
Lent made an end of feasting, masquer-
a. yaH l,IIffA
val was limited to the time Of from three
to eight days before Ash Wednesday.
The forms and customs still preserved
in its celebration originated without
doubt in the days far antedating the
Christian era.
The Bacchanalian festivals of the Ro-
mans, adopted by them from older ma
tions, were celebrated twice q year-in
the summer and winter-thus indica-
ting the early connection of the rites
with the phenomenon Of he solar sys-
tenn. The Lupercalian festival in honor
of Fan (god OF all in abitants and en-
blematic of fecundity) and Ceres (god-
dess of corn and harvests) was observed
in February (Which Pope Gelasius I
strove to supersede by substituting for
the Blessed Virgin, with special illuni
nation of candles on the altar Candle
mass). and coincided with the period of
carnival, as did also the medieval ce-
ebration of the Festival of Fools, also
q survival of old Pagan midwinter rev.
cling.
While thus being strongly reminiscent
of the Bacchanalia and Supercalia Of
Southern Europe, the carnival season
is also linked with the feast among
northern peoples. Shrovetide, or Shrove
Tuesday, called also Fasten-even or
Pancake Tuesday, was a relic Of the
English festive time at the feast of
Epiphany, or on Three Kings day. The
middle classes restricted their days OF
revelry to the week preceding Lent,
while the poor indulged in only one day
of mad mirth. The girls and boys, even
yet, in remote districts in England, go
a-clacking. They go about in parties