The herald., 1897-05-19
A PASSION PLAY IN MEXICO
Christ Represented by an Image,
Jointed to Do Its Part

The version of the passion Play" as
witnessed one day last week at Coyoa-
can was somewhat marred by the rain
that came on in the afternoon. which
necessitated the crucifixion being held
inside the church instead of on the arti-
fetal Calvary In the churchyard, but the
preliminary procession took place as
usual in the open air.
The character of this procession Is
we'll known to all old time residents of
Mexico. An image of the Savior, dressed
in purple velvet robe, crowned with
thorns. and bearing His cross, is carried
on a platform around the ,churchyard,
surrounded by Roman soldiers, Jewish
priests and crowds of the faithful bear
ing lights On the same platform with
the Savior are the Cyrenian, part taken
yesterday by young boy, Cruz Rivas
dressed in crimson and white. and three
little girls representing angels. dressed
in white muslin with silver gossamer
wings. They held handkerchiefs to one
eye, as If grieving over the sorrows Of
the Redeemer, while with the other they
calmly surveyed the crowd. In front of
the procession walked two bands, the
first performing the monotonous music
VI thC rave, COiSlStlu6 Ouly
of the beating of the drum and the pip
ing of the chirimia, the second rendering
modern selections in excellent style.
Only these selections were somewhat in
congruous, such as waltzes. polkas, etc.
During the procession the three falls
Of the Savior are represented. 1t is
a tradition among Catholics that Jesus
fell three times under the heavy weight
of His cross OH His way to Calvary.
The image is constructed with hinges,
so as to fall forward when desired. Ali
this time sermon was being preached
yesterday by Father Avila. AT the
times when the images halted near the
pulpit. which was placed under an UNI
brageous ash tree, he addressed the
Savior or His mother, who was dressed
in purple, with the sword of grief trans
fixing her breast, in the most earnest
and pathetic terms.
The churchyard of Coyoacan is we'll
shaded with trees, and the procession, as
it wound under them, made, with the
entire setting, the venerable ami
weather-stained old church building
and the motley and picturesquely attired
crowd most effective and impressive
spectacle. The dresses of the Roman
soldiers were of purple, green, scarlet
and yellow, generously bespangled, and
they wore FURNISHED helmets and enor-
nous plumes of the brightest colors
The white bearded Hebrew priests wore
their gorgeous vestments with horned
miterS and over the procession waved
flags of black, orange, purple, white and
vermilion. Yet, coarse as these COM
ponents may be, they made an effec-
tive scene.
After the procession the people formed
in two long lines in front of the pulpit
and the crier, Manuel Rivas, on horse
back, careered backward and forward,
laundering forth the sentence against
Christ. At times his horse became un-
and, as it started to bolt
his words were almost lost in his efforts
to rein it in. The people at this juno
ture made no attempt to repress their
hilarity.
After Manuel Rivas had vociferated
priest in the pulpit, who. as in Madam
Calderon's day. received it with look
of horror, tried to read and threw it or
the ground with an air of Indignation"
Owing to the shower that came on
very soon after the crucifxion, the cast
ing of lots for the seamless coat an.
other incidents of the Passion Play
were represented inside the church.
Each episode as it passed before the eyes
of the people was explained by Fatter
Avila who occupied the pulpit. When
the figure of Christ was taken down
from the cross it had grown quite dark
and the procession of people carrying
candles and accompanying the body to
the tomb made the most picturesque
feature of the entire ceremony, espe-
cially as seen from STANDARDIZATION
Herald.