The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-07-19
DANCING BEFORE THE ALTAR.
Observance Of o Curious Custom In the
Seville Cathedral-Legend OF Its Origin.

Observance OF O Curious Custom In the
Seville CathedraI-Legend OF Its Origin.
Not one Of the many relics Of the Middle
Agcs, with which Spain still abounds, 10
moro curious than the dancing before the
altar which takes place every evening dur
ing the octaves Of the Immaculate Concep-
ton December 8 to l6) and Corpus Domini
(three weeks after Ascension Day. In the
cathedral Of Seville. t,,
This church Is the largest Gothic cathe-
dral In the world. 1t is lit by no fewer than
ninety three windows and is a veritable
museum Of art. but tho browning glory OF
this venerable pile Is its fifteenth and six-
tenth century stained glass, the designing
of which is upon doubtful authority ascribed
to Raphael, Titan and Michael Angelo.
II Is within this wonderful edifce. says the
Pal Mall Gasette, that takes place the MOST
quaint ritual Of all Christendom.
The dance Ii performed by two rows OF
choristers or seises, numbering ten or twelve
formerly il was six), wearing .plumed hats
and dressed as pages OF the time OF Phnhp
ILL.,; the colors Of the clothes vary; Tor the
octave Of Corpus Domini they are red and
white, while blue and white are worn during
the Immaculate Conception. To the slow
music of violins this dance (Which Ii q SORT
Of minuet) Ia solemnly performed. devoid
Of all irreyerence and levity..
Az the D~ec0fnper IeStVai INC va ch.uuoA
IL In darkness, save for the lights Of the high
altar, and the effect Is consequently most
impressive. The chants which the choristers
break out into merely add to the solemnity.
Of the occasion, which Is not In the leasp
degree lessened by the sound OF the cas-.
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 org
mated at the time Of the siege Of Seville
they danced before the Moorish army.
which they 30 delighted that they were
abba to detain them while the Spaniards
manned the walls; but really the origin OF
this dancing is quite obscure.
Another interesting legend relates uhat
q certain Archbishop. Of Seville about
400 years G wished to suppress tins
ritual. but the citizens. together with, the
oanonsc gave such opposition hat there
was quite q tumult; and the matter was
Hishins to , ses the t Dance eops the % o SSor
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 70
might continue until the clothes we're worn
out; to avoid this the dresses, which are OF
striped silk. have always been partialE.
restored at a time. and they now bid far
to last forever. ;.
The other legends are connected with
the Jews Of Toledo. who formed the Only
community OF medieval Europe that w@
not confined to a Ghetto, with all Its per-
scouting regulations. One Of the reasons
given for this 10 that at the time OF the
C~ruoifxion, or q little before, the Sanhednn
Of Jerusalem sent around to all the Jewish
colonies asking whether or not the Christ
was tho long expected Messiah. and ee
Jews Of this city were the only ones WHO
returned an affirmative answer. for WHOM
they received their freedom.
Another legend says the cause OF this
singular circumstance was that when the
Christians endeavored 10 oonfine these
Jews to q Ghetto the latter proved hat
before the Cruoifxion their ancestors were
living tn Toledo and 30 they were &uilussa
Of that Grind.