The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-09-08
DANCE In CHURCH
CURIOUS SURVIVAL OF CUSTOM
OF THE MIDDLE AGES.
Cathedral at Seville, Spain, the Scene
Of Remarkable Ceremonial Of
Which the Origin Is Lost
In Antiquity.

Not one OF the many relics OF the
middle ages, with which Spain still
abounds, is more curious than the
dancing before the altar which takes
place every evening during the oc-
taves of the Immaculate Conception
december to 15) and Corpus Dom.
mi three days after Ascension day.
In the cathedral Of Seville.
This church Is the largest Gothic
cathedral in the world. 1t is liz by
no fewer than SO windows and is q
veritable museum of art. but the
browning glory OF this venerable pile
is It's fifteenth and sixteenth century
stained glass. the designing Of which
is upon doubtful authority ascribed
to Raphael, Titan and Michael An
gelo, II is within this wonderful edi.
fee, says the Pail Mall Gazette, that
takes place the most quaint ritual Of
all Christendom.
The dance is performed by two rows
OF choristers or seises, numbering 10
or ~ formerly II was slx), wearing
plumed hats and dressed as pages of
the time of Philip Ill; the colors of
the clothes vary for the oc-
tave of Corpus Domini they are red
and white. while blue and white are
worn during the Immaculate Concep-
tion To the slow music OF violins this
dance (which is a sort OF mlnuet) is
solemnly performed. devoid OF all ir.
reverence and levity.
At the December festival the vast
church is in darkness, save for the
lights of the high altar. and the eff.
feet is most impressive. The chants
which the choristers break out into
merely add to the solemnity OF the oc.
casion. which is not in the least de.
gree lessened by the sound of the cas-.
tanets 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
originated at the time Of the siege OF
Seville by some boys going out TO Al
Gala. where they danced before the
AApbiioh WHICH AhNg ~ h'AlSAii
ed 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 certain archbishop OF Seville
about 200 years ago wished TO sup
press this ritual, but the citizens. to
gether with the canons. gave such OPP
| position that there was quite a tn
mutt, and the matter. was referred &c
Rome. The pope of that time wish
ing to see the dance, the choristerS
were taken to the Eternal City. where
! they performed before the head d
to please the archbishop and at the
same time to appease the canons HI
said the dancing might continue unit
the clothes were worn out; to avoid
this the dresses, which are of striped
silk, have always been partially re
stored at time, and now they bio
fair to last forever.
The other legends are connected
with the Jews of Toledo, who formed
the only community OF medieya
Europe that was not confined TO {
Ghetto, with all its prosecuting regu
lations. One of the reasons given fo
this is that at the time of the cruel
fixion, or a little before, the Sanhe
drin OF Jerusalem sent around TO al
the Jewish colonies asking whethe
or not the Christ was the long expect
ed Messiah, and the Jews OF this cit!
were the only ones who returned al
affirmative answer. for which they re
ceived their freedom
Another legend says the cause o
this singular circumstance was tina
when the Christians endeavored {,
confine these Jews to Ghetto the lat
ter proved that before the crucifixiol
their ancestors were living In TOLEDO
and so they were guiltless of tina
crime.