Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-15
DANCING BEFORE ALTAR.
Observance Of a Curious Custom in
the Seville Cathedral.


Not one Of the many relics of the mid
die ages, with which Spain still abounds.
is more curious than the dancing before
the altar which takes place every even
ing during the octaves of the immacu-
late conception December to 80 and
corpus Domini three weeks after AS
cension day. in the Cathedral of Seville.
This church is the largest Gothic cathe-
dral in the world. 1t is lighted by no
fewer than nnety-three windows, and is
veritable museum Of art: but the
browning glory of this venerable pile is
its fifteenth and sixteenth century stain
ed glass. the designing Of which Is upon
doubtful authority ascribed to Raphael,
Titan and MichaelangelO. 1t is within
this wonderful edifice that takes place the
most quaint ritual of all Christendon.
The dance is performed by two rows of
twelve formerly it was sikh. wearing
plumed hats and dressed as pages Of the
time Of Philip III. The colors of the
clothes vary; for the octave Of Corpus
Domini they are red and white, while
blue and white are worn during the i'm
maculate conception. To the slow music
of violins this dance (Which is a sort Of
minueD is solemnly performed. devoid Of
all irreverence and levity.
At the December festival the vast
CnuTCn Is OdTkucsS, save IOT Tie liz nus
Of the high altar. and the effect is con-
sequently most impressive. The chants
which the choristers break out into mere
ly add to the solemnity Of the occasion.
which is not in the least degree lessened
by the sound of the castanets the seises
play. There are two sets of music, and
they are used upon alternate evenings,
the sale Of which Is jealousy guarded
against by the chapter
A legend says this singular ritual orig
mated at the time of the siege Of Seville
by some boys going out to Alcala where
they, danced before the Moorish army,
which they so delighted that they were
able to detain them while the Spaniards
manned the walls. But really the origin
of this dancing is quite obscure.
Another interesting legend relates that
a certain Archbishop of Seville about
200 years ago wished to suppress this
ritual. but the citizens. together with the
canons. gave such opposition that there
was quite a tumult. and the matter was
referred to Rome. The pope Of that time
were taken to the Eternal city. where
they performed before the head of Chris
tendon. who merely laughed. but to please
the archbishop and at the same time to
appease the canons he said the dancing
might continue until the clothes were
worn out. To avoid this the dresses.
which are of striped silk. have always
been partially restored at a time, and
they now bid fair to last forever
The other legends are connected with
the Jews OF Toledo who formed the only
community Of medieval Europe that was
not confined to a ghetto. with all its per-
scouting regulations. One of the reasons
given for this is that at the time Of the
crucifixion. or a little before. the San
hedrim OF Jerusalem sent around to all the
Jewish colonies asking whether or not
the Christ was the long-expected Mes
siah, and the Jews Of this city were the
only ones who returned an Affirmative
freedom.
Another legend says the cause of this
singular circumstance was that when the
Christians endeavored to confine these
Jews to a ghetto the latter proved that
bkfore the crucifixion their ancestors
were living in Toledo and SO they were
guiltless OF that crime.