The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1904-12-02
A CURIOUS CEREMONY
QUAINT SPECTACLE TO Be SEEN
ANNUALLY IN FLORENCE.


A Celebration which Dates From the
Time OF the Crusndes-story of
Lamp That Was Lighted From the
Sacred Fire at the Holy sepuIcher.
Florence is annually the scene OF
curious ceremony which da;es FROM
the time of the crusades. AS the gen
orally accepted tradition runs, Godfrey
dc Bouillon was accompanied on his
crusade by q young Florcat;ne noble
named RanierO. who was the first to
plant Christian banner on tie walls
of Jerusalem. Godfrey presented him
in reward for his bravery with l;,L!D
lighted from the sacred fire before tie
holy sepulcher. Ranicro WIS forced to
resort to many peculiar devices in or
der TO preserve his holy relic intact.
When the wind blew he turned in his
saddle, with his face toward his horses
tail, wrapping his cloak around his pre-
cious burden, and often when i>assn;
through populous towns. where this
strange attitude would have attracted
unpleasant attention, he inclosed the
flame in an iron ball. which he care
lessly rolled before him with his foot.
Even then his actions caused COM
ment, and people shook their heads us
he passed by and called him "paZzo."
or fool, whence came the family name
of Pazzi. celebrated i'll Florcntine his
tory.
Arrived ut length in his beloved town
of Florence, he deposited his lamp in
the little church of San Biagio. 1t is
still kept burning and plays an impor-
tant part in the following ceremony.
which takes place before the cathedral
every saturday before Easter:
Shortly before noon II service is held
in the baptistery, all the priests and
high officials Of the church IN cere-
monia robes participating At tie
stroke of II the piazza is crowded
with eager Sightscers, mostly country
people in holiday costume. wish gay
cOlored handkerchiefs over their heads.
Every one is on the qui vive for
the caro- which soon comes lumber
ing around the corner, drawn ny four
enormous white oxen. Great bouquets
of uowers are tied between their horns.
which are gildcd for the occasion
The car is an antique affair. made of
brown wood The arms of the PaZZi
family, dolphinS are carved on IT. and
its towering height crcaks under the
load of big firccTackers strung around
it in festoons The national colors-
red, white ana green-futter in the
breeze rs it is placed just in front OF
the great door of the cathedral The
oxen are unyoked and led into side
street
The doors OF the baptstery fly open,
and Il solemn procession enters the
cathedral, where light from the holy
lamp of San Riagio has been placed on
the altar. \ wire has been stretched
from the altar 10 fuse OF the car,
ana Il curious mechanical dove, with
another fuse in its mouth. lies wait
Ing near the priests hand. He pro-
nounces 4 blessing over it, lights the
fuse and sends it whirling along the
wire straight 80 The TAR, " iivTe ii sticks
its bill among the fireworks for mo-
ment and then triumphantly flies back
again.
The firecrackers begin to bang with
an energy that would do credit to the
Fourth OF July efforts of any small
American. Around and around Crccps
the tiny flame, ana Il battery of reports
like pistol shots follow i'm it's track.
The peasants shrek with delight and
scurry backward and forward to es-
cape the bits of burning paper that fill
the air. Boys dodge under ones ell
bows and push and wriggle through
the crowd 10 get nearer the great
sight. Babies cry, dogs bark, the great
bells in Giottos tower ring for the
first time in three days, and clouds OF
frightened pigeons dash backward and
forward. With an unexpected "iizzle''
the sound suddenly dies away.
The peasants go on their way re-
joicing. The weather has been fine.
and the car has burst" Ctl.e title of
this article meaning the bursting of
the car So perfection, ana there will
consequently be IL good harvest. The
crowd diSpeyses as if by magic many
following the car 10 the palace OF tie
Pazzi, where fresh supply OF crack
ers is exploded in honor OF RanerO
and his descendants. BY | o'clock the
piazza is as tranquil as ever, with its
omnibuses trundling through. and San
Biagio rctires into his usual lethargy.
New York Tribune.
Poor Authority.
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