Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-04-19
EASTER IN MEXICO.


Self Culture Magazine. -
There nre some curious Easter GUS
toms praoticed in Mexico. The city
streets are filled by Holy Thursday"
with vendors of "Judases," some life
size, others from six inches to three
feet In length, each being provided
with powder and fuse SO arranged that
the figure can be blown to pieces on
Sabado de Gloria, the day before Easter.
On that day the Judases are suspended
some OF the figures beiEg hung with
or huge pieces OF scraps, intertwined
with long fuses leading from one figure
to another; still others have copper
cents, these attracting the largest
crowds. Precisely at 10 o'clock the
cathedral bells, which have been
silent from Holy Thursday until then,
ring out joyous peal, which is taken
up by the bells of all the churches. AT
the same moment those in charge OF
thu Judases light the fuses, and to the
Changing OF the Bells is added the
popping of thousands of fire. crackers
that blow the Judases into bits, while
the crowds below scramble for bread,
meat and pennies. With the burning
of the Judases Holy Week is practically
ended. To most Of the people Easter
Sunday means no more than any other
Sunday In the year.
If Mexican visits seven churches
on Holy Thursday he earns $50 in
dulgences, SO the churches are generally
| well filled. The description OF the scene
at the stately Inquisition Church Of
Santo Domingo may BIZ quoted in part:
Sat the farther end of the beautiful
church rose the altar, a blaze of light
from the floor to the golden triangle
whose cleaning nimbus filled the dome
above. Hundreds of candles, inter-
spersed with oranges, tinsel, and glasses
OF newly sprouted wheat, produced at
| first the effect Of wall of fire. On
platform slightly raised above the floor
stood long table, at which were seated
wax and wooden figures of Christ and
the II disciples. the figures being
copied from Leonardo da Vinoi's Last
Supper The table was set with sill
YER goblets, oranges, and little pots of
young wheat symEolical of the resur
| rection. The same scene was repeated
| in every church.
| "In one corner of the chnrchyard of
| the fine old church at Ia. Lba was a
raised platform on which stood a
kitchen chair, small iron washstand.
| and tin basin. The scene represented
| the judgment hall of PLATE, tho Roman
governor being represented by a severe.
looking Indian In a long robe, who
washed his hands in the basin, while
the sad-faced figure of Jesus was being
borne into the church by the curiously
rohed Jews In few minutes the
procession emerged from the church,
where they had changed the erect,
blue-robed figure of Christ for sad,
STOPPING image, bowed down by the
weight Of heavy cross. This was car
ried ON the shoulders of four Indians.
Preceding the image came four Roman
| soldiers on very sorry looking horses,
one carrying the Mexican flag. After
them came Roman foot-solders trying
70 march TO the music OF toy drum
End squeaky fife. All the soldiers were
gaily deoked in tinsel, with tin helmets
supporting vari -coloied feather busters.
After the sorrowful image came long
line of Indians representing Romans
and Jews, all dressed In most extra
ordinary costumes. Of which tinsel, gilt
paper, and feathers formed the chief
accessories, the Jews being distin-
| Sulsuou ny Dusuy TSu WiRs. Ab TIC
procession moved slowly around the
ohurchy ard ir stopped at three stated
places, while the Indians bearing the
sacred image bent to the earth, thus
representing the legendary three falls
of Christ on His way to Crucifixion.
After this the membors Of the pro-
cession and the observers thronged into
the church, where the figure of Christ
was left on one side and the heavy
purple veil over the altar was drawn
away, revealing the scene of the Cruci-
fixion. A figure representing Christ
hanging on the Gross, the malefactors
on either side, stood out distinct in the
gloom Of the church, while thrill Of
horror ran through the vast throng.
Some groaned, others wept; no one
seemed unmoved by the tragic scene.
** Later in the day the long cur
tains before the altar were drawn, and
standing before them was solitary
figure Of the Virgin robed in black.
The gloom, the silence, the pathetic
figure were impressive. Al
one side of the church was rocky
tomb In which lay the figure of the
], Saviour, with blood-stained face and
mutilated hands and feet"
Sc yearly the tragedy of Ohrist's suf.
ferings and death is brought before the
, | nanpla NJ Mayioo