The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-01-04
ACURIOUS CEREl LONY
QUAINT SPECTACLE TO BE SEEN
ANNUALLY IN FLORENCE.

A Celebration which Dates From the
Time of the Crusndes-StOry of n
Lamp That WINS Lighted From the
Sacred Fire at the Holy sepulchcr.
Florence is annually the scene of Il
curious ceremony which dates from
the time of the crusndes. AS the gen
orally accepted tradition runs, Godfrey
de Bouillon was accompanied on his
crusade by young Florentine 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 lamp
lighted from the sacred fire before the
holy sepulcher. Ranlero 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-
cious burden, and often when passing
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 ms
he passed by and called him 'pazzO,"
or fool, whence came the family name
of Pazzi, celebrated in Florentne his
tory.
Arrived at length in his beloved town
of Florence, lie deposited his lamp in
the little church of San Biaglo. 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 a service is held
high officials of the church in cere-
monial robes participating. At the
stroke of ~ 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 qui vive for
the "carro," which soon comes lumber
ing around the corner, drawn by four
enormous white oxen. Great bouquets
of flowers are tied between their horns,
which are gilded 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 creaks under the
load of big firecrackers strung around
it in festoons. The national colors-
red, white and green-hutter in the
breeze as 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 baptistery fly open,
and a solemn procession enters the
cathedral, where light from the holy
lamp of San Biagio has been placed on
the altar. A wire has been stretched
from the altar to fuse on the car,
and a curious mechanical dove, with
another fuse in its mouth, lies wait
ing near the priests hand. He pro-
nounces a blessing over it, lights the
fuse and sends it whirling along the
wire straight to the car, where it 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 creeps
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 to 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 "fzzle"
the sound suddenly dies away.
The peasants go on their way re-
joicing. The weather has been fine,
and the car has "burst' (the title Of
this article meaning "the bursting of
the car'D to perfection, and there will
consequently be good harvest. The
crowd disperses as if by magic, many
following the car to the palace of the
Pazzi, where a fresh supply of crack
ers is exploded in honor of Raniero
and his descendants. By 1 o'clock the
piazza is as tranquil as ever, with its
omnibuses trundling through and San
Biagio retires into his usual lethargy.
New York Tribune.