The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-04


Easter Day of Worldly Pleasure in
Granada-Strange Customs Observed in
Salamanca
Although many of the old customs of
pagan times in Italy have died out some
of them still remain. The most curious
perhaps is tha. of the Easter CHI occia
In ancient times this carocoio, or war
chariot. was drawn by oxen in the midst
of the army. On the car was A wooden
castle with tall mast and cross-benm,
to which the bell was hung, and over il
hoated banner with the city arms. In
the walls of the church of San BiagiG
there are stones which are supposed to
have ben brought from Jerusalem, to
gether with sacred file from the Savior S
tomb. On these stones, on Saturday of
Holy Week. charcoal is lighted, and the
stones are drawn on the CARO- to the Ca
thedral. From these fires the sacred
lamp on the altar is lighted. This cere-
mony is suppose to tyEify the descent of
the holy spirit.
The legend connected with this cere-
mony relates that during the Crusades q
Florsntine of the name of Kaniero plant
ed ths first Christian standard on the
walls of Jerusalem. AS a reward for
this hs was periAiated to carry back to
Florence light kindlad at the sacred
fire on the Savior's tomb. He was re-
turning on horseback to his native city.
guarding the precious light, but the wind
nd hi tbJ,ca Toy oH
to extinguish it at every instant He
turned upon his horse and proceeded to
ride backward. The people, not know
ing the precious thing which he guarded,
shouted as he passed along, "Pazzo,
pazzo," fool, fool. However, he brought
the light to San Biagio, and ever since
in Passion week coal is kindled thore
and taken first to the square of the Pazzi
the name was taken from the epithet
hurled at the man who brought the light
from Jerusalem-and then to the cathe-
dral. An artificial dove, symbolical Of
the Holy Spirit. is made to carry the
lighJ from the cargo TO both the sacred
image at the corner OF the square and to
the high altar of the cathedral. With its
tail on fire the bird goes flying along
on wire until it reaches the spot of ig-
milton. where it turns and with its fiery
tail lights the flame. This custom bears
some resemblance to the ceremony at
where the patriarch lights a candle at
the sacred fire. He who has the good
fortune to kindle his own fire from this
candle is supposed to be secure from
harm throughout the year.
But the lighting of fires by the dova
may have had a different origin than is
ascrihed to it, There is an old story of a
Russian princess who was beset by her
enemies. Her husband had been killed,
and she was besieged on all sides by those
who wished to depose her. She Sc Mt
word that she would withdraw her army
II her opponents would acknowledge
their allegiance by sending three pigeons
and three sparrows for every roof in
town. The inhabitants were delighted
at this easy way of settling the difficulty
and Immediately sent the birds. But at
the dead of night each bird. with piece
of burning tow attached to its tail, was
liberated and few straight to the
thatohed roofs which Swallowed their
nests. A great confagration ensued. in
the midst of which the princess ssormed
the city and conquered it.
Another custom which has come down
from olden times, and which is still
prasticed in Florence, is the catching of
criokets on Ascension day. These in
scots are confined in small reed cages,
and the longer they can be kept alive the
longer will be the life Of the captor.
Whole families go in the early morning
to the green places about the city. taking
q luncheon with them. The crickets are
caught and placed in the tiny cages, and
there is betting as to which will jump
farthest and highest whom liberated.
The crickets are carried home to the dark
houses, and If they ohirp while impris-
oned in the reed cages it signifies good
luck to the household.
In Valencia there is peculiar service
on Good Friday. In the chapel of Cor.
pus Christi, where the ceremony takes
place, everyone wears black. Over the
high altar is a picture of the last supper,
and around this clusters the whole SER
vice. There are many tapcrs burning
about it, but elsewhere the church is in
darkness. The priests kneel in silence
while penitantial psalms are sung by
hidden choir. Then slowly, as the mu-
sic sleals through the gloom the picture
is let down by u mechanical contrivance
and violet curtains are visible Gradual
~ the curtains slip aside snd lilac rape-
ry is seen. This gives place to gray,
then to black, and last the figure OF the
Savior is seen upon the CROSS. Only the
head is seen distinctly, ana the music of
the "Misersre" still floats through the
church The last veil remains aside only
few moments, and one hns but a
glimpse of the dropping figure. Then the
people rise and the music changes to
happier notes, which tell of the rosurreo-
ton.
Easter Sunday is celebrated with great
a Nv In