The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-04-19
Holy Week in Spain.


apd
..,l correspondence of The Journal
..t451> 4. SPAIN, March 10, 1900.
,.. .lis letter reaches Belfast, we
.... lu the very thick of Holy Week,
Are, celebrated nowhere on the globe
., ~ri.u. with ceremonies indeScrib-
f stately and magnificent, yet fam
is the Passion Plays of Ober-
...-au Year by year, as the coun-
49,, poorer, these ceremonials in
. ,plemdor. while retaining all
aImtSs of the Miracle Plays of
t.pHp Ages. attracting thousands
.u~ from all parts of Europe.
.dl in Seville is Rome outdone
mp and magnitlcence of the
uudl celebration: and as that
Wpll as most religious city of
.ulN three hours railway ride
.Uva. We shall doubtless Join
If pilgrims to witness the
town and city of Spain great
US are made in advance for
n and all the people of the ru-
flock to the nearest centres
rfoU. whole families together
Il Ii, {,
thrV have not friends to visit.
.M- tl patronize the inns. All the
49,. 9rr swept and garnished, houses
teWaShed and draped i'll black,
,.N smallest detail of the awful
.... 1T twenty centuries ago is set
realistically as to make deep
..f- --tou on the most irreyerent be
.a I'm many places the full Passion
~. enacted out of doors, day after
L.. .. IHe people, including the pursuit
IT. IRE of Jesus, by men mounted on
.--N, ImperS0nating Roman soldiers;
Sonment, trial, condemnation
ucltiXion: and afterwards the
.aEn4 ar burning of Judas, the princi-
racters represented by willing
akpd out by etfigies in the death
n- the church. however. takes lit
part in these out-of-door per
oUes. until the great climax of
.u- hriSti, with its solemn ''pasos,"
ibid 10 typify the mournful throng
.n. passed the Via DolorOSa on its
.s aiyary. Every church in Spain
5fradia, OF religious brother
.. up0iuted AS body-guards to the
.r SAINT. whose life-size wooden
.+ stands above the high altar. 1t
JIe duty of the Cofradia to SUI
the pasoS, and to see that no
occurs in the performance
Qrch has its collection of
nSideS the SaviorS. Virgins and
The respective inches, which
lowed away for these Occa-
-.utOt them are of great anti
nH1uumdly venelated for the
Us cures they are believed to
|. U4ht. and all are brought FORTH,
their richest robes. for Cor
ST. Beforehand, WOrkmen
up awnings over the streets
Ii-- along which the professions
hairs for spectators are set
along the way, and every
window and balcony is dec
gallands of flowers and fill
. aleS Many OF the balconies
raped with crimson velvet.
-rd tulle, like opera boxes
1ody is provided with flow
A~1 before the sacred images
Nre upwards of a hundred
IN Seville. and each has
paSO, All meeting at last i'll
WlJdl, professions are constant
.ta till far into the night. The
a-O LIdrd of each paso is always
rines, as they are called
oia Of the church, wearing
terminating in a high-pointed
tHpt girdles. Their robes are
I purple, black and white, with
nS. crimped and berut1led
t1 manage with the graceful
might expect, and each carries
t irt candle nearly yard long.
F Hr companies of Roman sol
utSr and foot, whose shining
ai uugh made of discarded ker-
H~ and waving plumes add
iae brilliancy of the pageant.
my the images, upon black
ailorm, borne upon the Shout
m"u and surrounded by priests
4 lastical orders. The orna-
me images are of the richest
/ MNo- Xpensive observation-disclosures
gold rings upon every wooden
4eckiaces and bracelets of dia-
ar ad rubies, jewelled brooches
'f pin can be stuck; the Shout
| +" each covered with a velvet
2fferlng with gems and stiff with
h'oIdery. worth itself princely
N| lW the midst of this bejeWel-
Nuy of saints stands the forlorn
/ " our savior, falling under the
the cross, its suffering face
"4 Nlh blood, doubly painful by
tll the gaudy trappings Of
Immediately in front of
lyll Walk a hpYN of little girlS