The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-12-17
MEXICAN MERRYMAKING.
How Laborers on Plantation Cele'
brate Saints Day.


brate Saints Day. ,
The tims-honored custom OF cele-
brating Saints Day, after some ole OF
.snich near,y all the large haciendas
"A Mexico are named. was Witnessed I
sunday at one OF the principal ranches
n this valley.
! This custom was started by the
Spaniards as a religious rite, and still
retains a great deal of the same sea-
timent, although 1t is looked forward
to by most as genuine merrymaklng.
The extent of the celebration depends
on the number Of families living on
the hacienda and the hberality OF the
owner, who generally gives certain
sum TO one of the leading employees,
leaving the matter In his hands to ar
range for the greatest amount of en-
joyment to his fellow workmen. A
strict account is kept of the way this
money is spent. SO there is no dissat- |
lisfaction among the others, although |
1.-THE workman enjoying the distinction
of being chosen to manage the feast
is generally a leading star in the pro-
ceedings.
In the celebration Of Sunday the
ranch house had been beautifully dec
GRATED with flowers and evergreens,
witt Chinese lanterns hung in lows
along the portales. While work was
more than usually we'll atrenoed 10 the
day before. one could notice an under
/ current of excitement prev aiming in the
colony of some sixty odd hands, and
by s o'clock Saturday everything was
ready for the short vesper dance
which is usually held on the night be-
fore the saints day decoration proper.
IN the music procured for the occas-
ion is good enough, the people OF the
house generally enjoy little dance
= themselves, while all the poems gather
in front of the main building and are
! left entirely to their own devices to
? make the most of the occasion. This
' was the case on Saturday night, but
= while the inside entertainment was all
= that could be wished for, the attrac-
u ton OF watching the fun outside drew
il most of the family on the veI anda. All
p the poems of the place, OF course, mad
'e gathered, from babies in arms to old
- men and women, and all enjoyed the
: music and danoing in a quiet way
10 for the two hours to which 1t wa:
1t limited.
IN However. this was only the prelimi
: nary for the program of the next day
P AT $3.50 10 the morning mass wa
ne heard in the little chapel OF the place
Of the priest and the band being pa1'
D" for out of the fund devoted for Tn
w occasion At this mass not only tn
~ work people and the people OF tn
ed house attended, but also many fron
le the neighboring haciendas. Particula
81 prayers were said for the success c
i the hacienda, and altogether a yer
pr impressive service held. Everythin
On went as usual during the day, but q
Us night the entertainment was give
over entirely to the wofkpeople. TS
~ bles had been placed on the lawn
ie front of the house on which were IN
~ mense stacks of candy and fruit; FIRE
III. pulque from the ranch had been pre-
al cured in quantities, and the maJt
ala domo had to have several asslstan
va to help him deliver these things, Y
ne which the people, old and young, Al
re- so fond. System had to be employ'
in distributing the fruit and candy.
al they passed in front OF the tabl
axe those appointed as walters gave
W" each as much as they could cow
I'd niently get away with in day or
Attempts are always made to work q
* walters as many times as possible, al
on II was amusing to watch the little II
the lows especially dodge through I
low crowd and start in again, marching
as seriously and innocently as cot
TIA be with their little shirts bursti
on with what they had already stor
JUS away inside.
iur- The dancing began about 8 o'clo
and lasted until II, being carried
az with vigor the whole of the time
~ old and young. 1t doesn't make mt
difference on these occasions who
me what the partner is, so long as II
10 are nimble on their feet and have &c
70 staying powers. II "a girl or won
be not available, men and boys dal
y. with each other, the primary obj
leaa being not to waste the music.
Perfect order, good feeling and
on likeness prevailed, and after the nj
lton Was over the people were ready to
lg home, feeling better for their recr
llian ton, and resolved to deserve by Il
Maui work another fiesta Of a like k
W OF when the time comes around.-M'
awe can Herald.
Ital-