Washington sentinel., 1898-05-14
nnatnr HnIinnrn in Crete.
Couyyiey des Etats LNis.

ttanS OF the OTLnOuOA huA~"l
Easter is the greatest religious les
tival OF the wear. 1t is also a JOY
GUS festival. for it fills stomachs
famished by a fast of forty eight
days. During that period he who
desires to follow the rules of the
Church strictly must abstain not
only from meat, but also from
milk, eggs and FISH, and must con.
tent himself with bread, olives and
vegetables.
AT present it is true that people
generally do not fast so long, es
pecIally in the cities, where, IN
stead Of observ ng eight weeks OF
Lent, they fast only the first and
last week. But in Crete they ad
here, practically everywhere, to
the observance Of the whole fast.
1t is therefore very natural that
the Cretans should long for the
feast OF Easter, which not only
elevates their souls, but, in addi-
ton, permits them to strengthen
their bodies, after long abstinence,
by kealthiul and agreeable nour-
ishment.
According to the custom of the
country, roast lamb is the first dish
with which the fast is broken.
That is why throughout Holy
Week the towns and villages re-
echo with plaintiVe bleats and the
tinkling of bells that hang from
the necks of the white victims
coming from the mountains, Each
father of family is eager to buy a
lamb. After the purchase OF the
animal the dyeing Of the eggs and
the preparation of the Easter
loaves begin. The latter are round,
and before being put into the oven
are garnished with red eggs and
sprinkled with sesame.
AT last the long-wished-tor Eas-
ter Saturday arrives. Everybody
puts on his finest summer clothes,
for spring comes early IN these
quarters. About the end of Feb
ruary carpet of verdure, delight
fully bordered with daisies, anem-
ones, covers the island; the air is
filled with dainty fragrant per-
fumes, a diaphan ous light bathes
in its white brilliancy the undulat-
ing hills and the distant mountains,
while the plittering sea reflects the
colors OF the rainbow. AT mid
night everybody goes to church to
hear mass and celebrate the resur-
rection of Christ. Men, women
and children, each carrying can
die, enter the church, which is
shrouded in a semi darkness pene-
trated only by the scattered and
feeble light oil few lamps, which
add to the mysterious charm Of the
ceremony and to its impressive
solemnity. 1t is the idea Of death
and grief that is expressed by this
veil of darkness which is spread
through the church. But what a
stirring contrast is the sudden
brightness that bursts from thou
sand lights when the priest, passing
his candle to his attendants, pro-
nounces the formal words. Christ
is risen from the deadp'
1t is life, then, that enters in
great torrents Of light, and it is joY
that fills the hearts and eliminates
the countenances. The moment
is impatiently awaited by those
remaining outside the building,
who then FIRE off guns. Let the
reader remain calm; it is simply a
manifestation of glee. The Cretan
knows no better way to express
his Joy. He greets with gunshots |
the return of relative, the mar
riage OF d brother or the arrival OF
young married couple in town.
Why should he not make powder |
speak," with still greater ardor, to
celebrate the resurrection of the
Lord9
So it is veritable battle fire that
breaks out in front Of the church |
and it continues until the end of |
the mass. The boys take part in
this exercise with the Yivacity |
characteristic OF the Greek youth. |
There are some who even dis
charge guns inside the church, and
in order to make the dstonation
the louder they use wads OF hemp.
Not infrequently this juvenile ex-
uberance causes more or less seri
Gus wounds.
Alter mass all go home, and for
a week afterward GOOD day" and
"Good morning" gives way to the
form "Christ is risen" AS they
saw this friends and acquaintance |
kiss each other.
The greater part of Sunday is
devoted to the pleasures Of the
table. There are two meals, the
first in the morning, the second at
noon. The principal dish is always
lamb. At the end Of the dinner a
large plate OF red eggs is brought
in, but not Immediately eaten; the
egg battle must first take place.
Each one chooses an adversary
and knocks his egg against his
adversary'S egg. Happy is he
whose egg proves the stronger; he
is the victor and has the right to
eat both eggs. From time to time
The pistols and guns are seized and
shots are gailY fired out OF the
window. Ofcourse this overflow
ing 10y is not relished by passers-
by. On Sunday afternoon the
people go to church again to hear
the gospel and to take part in the
execution of Judas.
The scene OF this spectacle is the
public square. A straw man, fan
tastically dressed, and hung from