Evening star., 1902-01-02
Observance in the TyrOl.

In the ancient Church of St. Michael, at
SchwatZ, in the Tyrol, the sacred editice is
invariably kept securely closed on the
cvening before New Year, and the people
II the district convinced that on these
,ccasions, when no one is present, i'm
nense toad comes crawling before the al
tar, where it knees and prays, weeping
bitterly. No one ever hurts toad in the
Tyrol, for the population are imbued with
the belief that toads are for the most part
good Christians who have made vows to
go on pilgrimages, and who have died
without fulfilling their obligations in this
) respect. So the poor creatures go hopping
about astray, bewildered and perplexed,
striving to find their way to shrines which
have perchance long since ceased to exist.
There are some who may be tempted to
laugh at this queer idea. But to my mind
it is one of much pathos and productive of
good, since it prevents cruelty to the poor,
despised toad. 1t is almost as pretty be-
lief that current among the European
peasantry to the effect that the robins arc
indebted for their red breasts to their eff
forts to pluck the nails from the hands and
feet and the thornS from the brow of the
crucified Christ
In certain parts of southern France New
Year eve continues to be celebrated to this
day by the famous Feast of Asses of me-
diaeval ages Before the congregation is ad-
m1tted to the church a huge braZier, all
glowing with flames is placed in the CEN
ter of the nave upon the stone floor, and
a broad path from the western entrance to
the high altar at the eastern extremity of
the church is roped off. The ceremony be-
! gins with procession Of various minor
biblical personages. At it's head walk two
priests. singing quaint old Provencal
hymn of praise. interrupted at eyery few
words by cries of Gloria from their COM
panions When the procession reaches the
center of the church six men, garbed as
the Jews Of the time Of Christ, step for
ward on one side, and six Gentiles on the
other, Two VOcatOrpS stand
while the rest of the processionists range
themselves in groups around. "Ihe Lord
Is made man. the Gentiles eXclaim. The
vocatores appeal to the Jews to confirm
this statement. Prove that we are to
govern you," scornfully retort the Jews
Summon the Prophets.
The vocatores then at the request of the
Gentiles summon the prophets and law
eivers of the Old Testament to come for
ward and to overwhelm the Jews by bear
Ing witness to the infant Christ. One by
one these great personages of antiquity, in
obedience to the call Of the vocatores,
slowly advance up the aisle, pause for a
moment in the full glare of the light cast
by the fiery brazier, and then pass on into
the gloom. Some of them speak, while
others only bow to the voca torres The first
to respond to the summons is invariably
Moses, bearing in one hand the tables Of
the law and in the other a rod. He has a
couple of horns on his forehead. Aaron is
dressed in full pontihcals, with a miter;
Isaiah has scarlet stole across his brow.
while the most comely youth Of the local
ity is invariably selected to represent
Daniel
The principal figure of the procession,
however, is Balaam. since it is from his
donkey that the feast takes it's name.
When about half way up the church a
young man with flowing yellow hair, and
dressed all in white. springs into his path
and waves cleaning sword in the air.
The donkey stops short whereupon it's
rider begins to beat it vigorously. A child,
who has meanwhile crept under the volu-
| minous trappings of the animal. now cries
out in piteous voice. why do you hurt
me so?" The scene as described in the
Bible then follows, after which the angel
goes his way. with passing almonition to
Balaam to have no dealings with Balak.
The last parsonage to enter is usually
Judas, who constitutes the tragic character
of this quaint old festival. On its termina-
ton prophets, saints. Jews. Gentiles, voca-
torres and the congregation all unite in one
long hymn Of praise, exulting in the
triumph of Christ. the discontinue of un-
: believers and invoking divine blessings on