Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-12-28
LETTER FROM MEXICO.
Something About the Holidays of the
Mexican Republic Interesting Customs
To the Editor of the Free Press:

Museo de la c. G. Il.
Tacubaya D. t., Mexico.
To the Editor of the Free Press:
OF the thirty-three legal holidays in
Mexico none are more interestingly ceie-
brated than the LIST. and End. days of Nov
embcr. The LIST. of November "All Saints
Day" is mainly observed in the churches, |
az in the Catholic churches of the United
states, by special services and prayers
for the numerous minor saints having no
particular calendar day, aud prayers for
deceased babies. The poorer class takes
no part in these observances but is bus
in pr 2paration for the End. of November,
the Gay for the commemoration of the de-
parted, the feast day of IAN Souls" pop
ularly called the Day Of the Dead" On
this day also masses are said and special
prayers offered in the churches but the
characterstically Mexican celebration
takes place in the cemeteries. The mem
bers OF each family visit the graves of de-
parted relatives and friends placing
wreathsan candles about them The grav-
es Of the wealthy, and of popular states
men are hardly visible beneath the mass
es Of floral offerings.
The most typical and novel sights are
seen in the great Dolores cemetery Of sew
era thousand acres, four miles from the
city, where are all the graves of the
poorer class. For days every penny is
savod to buy feather and flower wreaths.
IL blue or black wooden cross, and black
artificial flowers for decoration. Many
graves are covered with an arbor-lkc
structure of woker-work and flowers
with candles and perhaps a photograph
of the deceased inclosed. In some parts
of the country food and drink are placed
over night upon the graves but this GUS
tom is being gradually done away with
by the clergy
In all the streets and stalls are sold
& n
of sugar; small collins so arranged that
the lid may be opened by spring disclos-
ing skeleton; skeletons riding bicycles;
tiny busts of dead heroes then there are
countless miniature affairs, cata falques,
funeral cars etc. No child would be hap
Ply without as many of these toys as his
parents can buy; and the Mexican par
ents are without exception very indulgent.
/ On the day OF the fiesta all den their
best and gayest apparel and as early as
possible hurry to the cemetery. All day
long outside the big gates the streets are
filled with gay crowd. reminding one,
by its noise, of circus crowd in the
States. There are no signs of mourning.
Outside the gates everywhere are booths
/ containing eatables and drink, and excit-
ed vendors shriekng the merits of their
wares. The natural and artificial flowers
etc, for decoration are also for sale.
! In the early part of the day the scene
is certainly picturesque. The clean white
/ blouses. peaked sombreros. and gay strip
ed blankets of the peon men, the stiffiy
: starched petticoats, bright rebozos and
! flowers of the women, each laden with
baskets of food and jugs of 'pulque" form
/ pleasing picture. The entire hillside
, upon which the cemetery ia situated is
one mass of bright coors.
/ The cemetery is first visited by the
crowds coming and going, but as no drink
Is allowed inside all is quiet within the
priest praying or chanting over a grave,
according to the size of the purse of the
relatives. Occasionally the faces of the
relatives show real sorrow but as II rule
i all that is done and said is for show and
in a spirit Of rivalry. After the prayers
the rest of the day is spent by all the
poorer class about the cemetery. visitinS
eating and drinking until by night the
majority show the effects of two much
. pulque' some at the bOisterous stage
others fighting, and still others quite UNI
anle TO move All are very happy, and
the Day of the Dead" is, by the poor
peon, the holiday most enjoyed and is
looked forward to during the whole year
Among the upper class Mexicans, after
visiting the cemetery in the morning, the
correct thing is to hear in the afternoon
. or evening the famous play of the tra-
ditional Spanish legend OF Don Juan Ten.
orio as dramatized by the noted Don Jose
the year. II is a tale of the wild adven-
lures of a malicious and dissolute villain
Don Juan, who boasts of many acts OF
wickeduess performed on wager The
heroine. convent novice, Dona Ines very
much in love with Don Juan, dies of &
broken heart and five years afterwards
saves him from his just punishment by
2 the power of her love-
me particular appropriateness of this
, fantastic drama for this feast day Is Its
famous graveyard scene In the GENE
terry where are the sepulchres of Dons
Ines. her father and several others whom
y Don Juan had killed. the statues of the
dead move and even descend to warn tn,
| nero from his ways Of wickedness.
funeral procession of penitents carrying
y torches and intoning dolefui chant, tn,
funeral chant for Don Juan himself, pass
es across the stage. Don Juan suddenl,
somehow finishes his career and ascend
to heaven with the faithful Ines, though
the ghost of her father tries TO drag hin
v TO a far different resting place
The entire scene is delightfully."- weir,
7 and melancholy to the Mexican The eff
[ feet of skeletons emerging from tombs
white-robed angels, and the ghost of til,
beautiful Ines is certainly striking "a
seen on the stage of the Teatro Nacional
the second largest stage in the New World
Though the play is supposed to inculcat
7 good principles In the youthful mind, AM
for this reason children OF all ages ar
taken to see it, a foreigners impression
of the moral of the plot is that IL a vii
r lain has a good sweetheart he may be a
! bad as he pleases and come out all RICH,
Sincerely Yours,
BESSIE STEARNS BARRETT.