The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-04-11
By RUDOLPH DE ZAPP.


Easter IN many countries OF the Chris
tian world is the predominating holiday
Of the whole year. the feast even taking
precedence over Christmas. Especially
is this the case IN South American and
Latin countries, where Easter is eele-
brated with unusual pomp and circum-
stance
or all the Mexican holidays none IS
welcomed with more enthusiasm than
Easter For II IS then that the swarthy,
big-hatted, evil-eyed native adds an ex-
ira twist to his serape. takes an extra
swig OF pulque and goes out whOoping
10 hang Judas Iscariot- The Mexican's
dominant impulse Is always for revenge.
On Easter II IS given full sway. There
is no restraint. It is a wild delirium Of
vengeance with an accompaniment OF
dynamite explosions. fireworks. and PTS
tol shots with Judas Iscariot. the
damned one. as a target FOR his rancor
and his bullets.
Easter loses its Identity as a demon
stration OF love and forgiveness Il be-
comes a season of. vengefuI Ievity.
Throughout the republic this observance
prevails. With the break Of Easter morn
the population bolts its breakfast and
hurries out into the highways 10 hang
Judas in efigy Judas figures. in every
shape and size. sdorn the trees. He
hangs IN every highway and byway In
the neighbCrhoOd OF the cities and towns.
The traveller wiz come upon him weeks
afteTNard hanging from the trees over
the mountain trails. where ne has been
swung by the bandits who observe the
day as religiously az their brothers IN
der police protection.
IN some % the localities where there
are no trees permanent hanging posts
have been set up. the poles having been
brought from great distances IN many
cases. The resourcefuI Mexican. along
the railroad lines. has come 10 regard
the telegraph poles as a special dispers a-
lion OF Providence. Judas sEays in the
swish Of every passing train. There IS
no set ceremony for the hanging A fig
ure Is stuffed; any kind OF garments
available being used Sometimes Il Is
the uniform Of a soldier; sometimes that
Of rurale, sometimes the Mexican humor
dresses him en- wcmen's garments. but
most often II Is the ordinary clothing
Of the lower class. A rope IS fixed about
the neck OF the figure and u is h0isted
amid the jeers. the boots and bowls Of
the spectators. Fireworks are set on
and explosions add 10 the din Once
s'<-ts,~,i sis- dgure becomes the target for
all the firearms IN the crowd The Nexi-
can satiares his love for vengeance by
shooting the figure 20 tatters
Authority steps side on Easter Day N
the villages. while Judas is being hanged
The Mexican is privileged TO DO as ne
Dleases as long as he forgets 70 XIII In
the cities the hanging takes on more de-
corum. but there Is stilI the fireworks
and the explosions. The shooting is pre-
hIbited. and the Mexican is permitted IN
stead 10 throw his knife. When the fg-
gre Is full Of knives il Is lowered. the
owners regain their weapons. and the
contest OF skill IS resumed
At his best Judas becomes a verltable
Christmas tree. Then the figure "a stuff
ed with cigarettes. TOYS. sweetmeats. and
knicknacks dear 20 the Mexican heart
Innumerable fuses are dtted 90 him and
he is loaded with powder IN this form
he IS hung. with mingled jeers and cries
Of delight Finally. when the crowd has
become impatient. q signal is given the
fuses are lighted and with much fixing
and tuning Judas eNpIodes. scattering
his gifts among the crowd as he once
threw away his thirty pieces % silver
In Cuba and other Spanish-American
countries there is a curious custom which
almost outrivals those OF other places.
At an appointed hour on Easter morning
the cathedral doors are thrown open FOR
the resUrrected Saviour 10 pass out This
is a waxen figure OF Christ with open
wounds exposed seated upon a draped
platform. beneath which may he seen the
legs Of the score OF monks who carry t.
Following IS a long line OF priests bear
ing crosses and many candles
This odd procession passes down the
sunht street until az d given point It Is
met by a second figure. borne on the
shoulders Of -four priests This repre-
sents q woman dressed IN the most .C0r-
geous fnery. Il IS Mary MagdaIene's
coming 20 meet her Lord after His resur-
recti0n.
There is a sudden halt Of both figures.
and then Mary turns and haStens away
the eight legs beneath galIoping fu-iOusIy
IN order that II might be seen how fast
the reprntant one Is hurryinE 10 gpread
the news Of the risen Christ As she
goes she is met by q third Squire decked
IN yellow satin and crowned with gold
and this is the Virgin Marv. The two
pause and then turn 70 meet the advanc-
ing Saviour When they do reach Him
they bow repeatedly. and then the pro-
ccSSion solemnly returns 70 the church
passing through rOWs OF soldiers who
as they enter its doors. FIRE a salute. and
the music ends with a great flourish
In this modern and progressive world
this quaint custom seems most primitive
but the glamour OF It all brings such sOy
10 these superstitious people that a so
journer with them az this season cannot
but be impressed with their simple faith
The ceremony OF holy Ere within the
Church OF the Holy Sepulcher. Palestine.
IS a very remarkable practice, and one
against which the Pope vigorously pro-
tests. but the Greek Church declares II
is an annually recurring miracle.
On Holy Saturday. with the church
crowded almost 20 sufocation. all lights
are extinguished. and one OF the Greek
patriarchs opens the service by circiing
three times around the sepulcher. follow
ed By the bishops (an OF them clad IN
rich robes}. all praying fervently that
the fire may be sent down from heaven.
The patriarch then enters the sepulcher
alone. and for a moment all Is dark.
when suddenly through the holes in the
wall light appears and the priests. stand
ing IN front Of them, hand In candles.
These they receive again lighted. and
they are sent by chosen messengers TO
Bethlehem. Nazareth, and al over Pal
estine. AS they pass through the con
gregation 10 the church door there is
a mad rush toward them. each member
Of the vast assemblage striving 20 light
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