The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-04-06
ACURIOUS CEREMONY
~ouAlNT SPECTACLE TO BE SEEN
ANNUALLY IN FLORENCE.

) s
A Celebration Which Dates From the
Time OF the Crusades-Story of a
Lamp Ti'nt Wns Lighted From the
Sacred Fare at the Holy Sepulcher.
Florence is annually the scene of a
Furious ceremony which dates from
the tine of the crsssades AS the gen
orally accepted tradition runs, Godfrey
&c Bouillon was accompanied on his
crusade by a young Florentine noble
named Isaniero, who was the first to
pl,'nt ! Christian banner on the walls
of Jerusalem. Godfrey presented him
II reward for his bravery with lamp
lighted from the sacred fire before the
holy sepalcaer. Ranero was forced to
res st % n!any peculiar devices in or,
der 70 preserve his holy relic intact
saddle with his face toward his horses
tail, wrapping lis cloak around his pre-
ciouS burden. and often when passing
through poplious towns, where this
unpleasant attention. he inclosed the
fame III 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 as
be passed by and called him s'pazzo,
or fool, whence came the family name
Of Pazzi, celebrated in Florentine his
terry.
Arrived at 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-
TAFT part in the following ceremony,
which takes place before the cathedral
every Saturday before Easter:
Shortly before noon service is held
in the baptistery, all the priests and
high officials of the church in cere-
monial robes participating. At the
Sroke of - the piazza is crowded
NTH eager sightseers, mostly country
people in holiday costume, with gay
colored handkerchiefs over their heads.
Every one is on the Qui yive for
the caro-" which soon comes lumber
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 o.
brown wood The arms of the PaZzi
family, dolphins. are carved on it, and
its towering height creaks under the
load of big frecrackers strung around
it in festoons. The national colors-
red, white and green-futter in the
breeze as it is placed just in front Of
the great door of the cathedral. The
oxen are unyoSed and led into side
street
The doors of the baptistery fly open,
and a solemn procession enters the
cathedral, where a 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 curious mocha meal 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 scAds it whirling along the
wire straight to the car. where it sticks
its bill among the fireworks for a mo-
ment and then triumphantly flies back
again
The irecrackers 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 fame 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 nil
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
Ills in Giotto's tower ring for the
+ time in three days, and clouds Of
r.lghtened 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 carr 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 fresh supply Of crack
ers is exploded in honor Of Raniero
and his descendants. By / o'clock the
piazza Is as tranquil as ever, with it's
omnibuses trundling through, and San
Biagio retires into his usual lethargy.
New York Tribune.