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


ANNUALLY IN FLORENCE.
Celebration which Dntes From the
Time OF the Crusadcs-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 froI.t
the time of the crusades. AS the gen
orally accepted tradition runs, Godfrey
dc Boulllon was accompanied Oh his
crusade by Il young Floreatine noble
named Raniero. who was the first to
plant Christian banner on the walls
OF Jerusalem. Godfrey presented him
in reward for his bravery with l:.iAD
lighted from the sacred fire before tie
holy sepulcher. Ranicro was 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-
cio''s burGen. and often when passing
through lopulous towns, where this
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 aus
he passed by and called him "paZzo."
or fool, whence came the family name
of Pazzi, celebrated ia Florentine his.
tory.
Arrived ut lehgth 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-
monlai robes participating At tie
stroke of II the piazza is crowded
with eager sightseers. mostly country
people in holiday costume. with gay
colored handkerchiefs over their heads.
Every one is on the Qul vive for
the "carro,' which soon comes lumber
ing around the corner drawn hy four
enormous white oxen. Great bouquets
s.,
which are gilGcd for the occasion
The car il an antique affair. made of
brown wood. The arms of the PaZZi
family, dolphins, are carved on it. and
Its towering height creaks under the
load Of big tirccraciers strung around
it in festoons. The national colors-
red. white ana green-hutter i'm the
breeze rs it is placed just in front OF
the great door of the cathedral. The
oxen are unyoked and led into a side
street
The doors OF the baptistery fly open.
and solemn procession enters the
cathedral, where Il light from the holy
lamp of San RiagiO has been placed on
the altar. \ wire has been stretched
from the altar 10 fuse OH the car.
and curious mechanical dove, with
another fuse in its mouth, lies wait
ing near the priests hand. He pro-
nounces Il blessing over it, lights the
fuse and sends it whirling along the
wire straight To the car, where 1t sticks
its bill among the fireworks for a mo-
ment and then triumplantly flies back
again.
The iirecrackers begin TO bang with
an energy that would do credit to the
Fourth Of July efforts of any small
American. Around ana around crecps
the tiny flame. and battery of reports
like pistol shots follow in its 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 IL get nearer the great
sight. Babies cry, dogs bark, the great
bells in GiOtto's tower ring for the
first time in three days. and clouds of
frightened pigeons dash backward and
forward. With an unexpected "tizzle"
the sound suddenly dies awsy
The peasants go on their way re-
Joicing. The weather has been fine
and the car has burst" Ul.e title OF
this article meaning the bursting OF
the car ITO perfection, and there will
consequently he II good harvest The
crowd disperses as if by magic. many
following the car TO me palace OF tile
Pazzi, where fresh supply OF crack
ers is exploded in honor Of Raniero
and his descendants. BY l o'clock the
piazza is rs tranquil as ever, with it's
omnibuses trundling through. and San
Biagio rctires into his usual lethargy.
New York Tribune