The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-21
FLORAL FEAST.
Beautiful Corpus Christi
Custom Observed in an
Ancient Town.
STREETS CARPETED WITH FLOWERS
Crowds Move in Procession Headed
By the Clergy-News From
the Churches.
STREETS CARpETED WITH FLOWERS

Not so many of the butterfly visitors tc
Teneriffe have had an opportunity OF
Witnessing the great fiesta, watch is very
Justly the pride of the natives. 1t is in
the Villa Orotava, writes w. N. Reed,
in the London Strand that the festival
of lowers takes place-that beautiful
picturesque and aristocratic old town
which ciings to the slope of the valley,
right under the protecting wing Of the
majestic Peak.
1t has been the custom for many years,
on the feast of Corpus Christi, to bear
the Sacred Host in procession through
the streets, returning to the quaint little
church by a slightly different route. The
streets traversed by this solemn process
sion are literally carpeted with Hover
petals by the devout natives. For several
weeks before the great day, flowers OF
ai KINDS are ~assiduously collected in
baskets from the i-nexhaustible gardens
round about. After these nave been
sorted. according to color, they are torn
70 pieces and converted into opulent
heaps OF fragrant petals.
At uaWns ON the morning of the fiesta,
auoaids OF wood, and cardboard are
PLACED in positions; and, later on, the
py scores Of willing workers. Then, pa
tlently and skillfully, the practiced
Artists gartlsts 5 begin t. FIJI IN the designs with
90 PStai0 lit UdthETOQUQ-I4e AIulf
width OF each street excepting the foot
paths-is usually of an effective dark
green, composed of chopped heather. The
carpet designs differ each year: and. a.
a rule, one design runs the whole length
OF a street, carried out in many combi-
nations OF color.
The street corners are adorned with
larger and more ambitious pietures sew
erat houses en- roIte, too, are noted FOR
their " individual efferts-notablv. sIhe
residence of the MorSteverde family, be-
lore which on Tho - ~ h. - - -
pc seen an admiring crowd, Studying the
beautiful allegcrIcal and religious devices
wrought in tiower-petafs on the ground
When all the coloring is deity filled in
the moulds are withdrawn, LEAVING the
always picturesque streets cdrpated Wfth
many colorSd flowers The artists, handi-
worA IS tnen carefully sprinkled with
cession shall come and trend 1t almost
out of existence.
or course the steepness of the streets
the entire spectacle. because many of
the ftoral carpets Seem to be hung. so
TO speak, before one's eyes.
for Two or three hours or 50 an in
Eafiapiy we'll conducted crowd in gala
dress, streams up and down the pave
Ilerts, hating here and there to admire
the more striking designs. Among these
good IoiK one searches in vain for a M
gle heavy booted barbarian. longing IL
pets.
cievtf designers never dream of
the possibility of such ebullitions amor
the gentle, pious holiday makers; nor need
they fear inclement weather.
AS the hour approaches most of the
Spectators betake themselves to the
cnurch, while the handful of strange
VISITORS seek points of age
rooIs and balconies-from which to view
the procession and consequent imnolafiop
OF the carpets The view of the whole
junction from above is truly lovely the
streets stretching away on every hand
in the guise of gorgeous strjDs Of varie-
gated color. AT the little broadway. he
yono, perhaps is an irregular square. on
Which is yfvfdly shown in flower petals !
Whlte cock, q monstrous cross, q crown
OF tnOrnS, a golden chaliee wonderfully
shaded and many other emblems of the
Passfon-all standing out against q pure
white background. At last, Just as the
llght begins to fad and the air becomes
somewhat cooler. jingling bells announce
church.
presently the entire pageant comes into
view-whfte-robed boys, priests in snIan-
did vestments and serried lines of chant
ing crimson-robe Brothers of the
Lord. AT this moment the different ef-
feets Of color are very striking as the
procession moves through the .fower-car-
peted street. Seen from above. the red
which cover the women's heads
form a glowing mass, rivaling the wide
spread petals in variety, If not in beauty
of coloring.
But the procession has faded in the
now: the band strikes up 4
march, and the crowd surges into its |
wake. Coachmen rush off by side streets
TO get their vehicles, and then one real
ICES swiftly the full extent of the floral
holocaust. Nothing remains but a scat
tered. pitiful covering of bruised petals.
from which a faint perfume is waited up
appeallngly to. those who have witnessed
the strange scene. /