The Washington herald., 1909-04-04
By CAPT. CAssILLY COOK.

Foreign and interesting indeed are the
picturesque celebrations OF Holy Week
among the festa-loving people Of Moor
ish Havana, La Capital de Cuba
But a hundred miles south Of our Flor
ida shore IS this wondrous city. founded
nearly 200 years before our country was
settled. In 15OS velasquez gave it the
name Of Lava del Nuevo Mundo" CSey
OF the New World.
II Is truly said that Havana IS more
Spanish than Madrid. with its medieval
religious customs now being enacted.
The bountiful Caban fora, myriads or
rcses. large and red; heliotrope and lilies
in profusion, great stacks OF golden ba-
nanas, pyramids OF luscious oranges. the
cocoa. and palms are among the Easter
season street decorations.
Martial music throughout la Capt.
tai" ushers in Holy Week and its con-
" pursuits No work Is permitted, no
dancing. cock fighting. horse racing. and
Other sports are INDUCED in. and the Gu
bans generally are most religiously IN
clined.
The mandates Of the old mother church
the church Romano, ApOstolica, CatOli-
ca" the faith that nerved Christopher
Columbus when his frail barques crew
deserted him. whose symbolic cross he
raised and devoutly knelt before as he
landed on Cuba's golden shore. that com
forted and recOnciled a hundred thou
sand patriots for Cuba Libre" as they
were led forth. lined up. and Tuthlessly
shot down by Spanish soldiers behind Ca
bana's walls: tie faith that sustained
Cuba's martyrs in a century's warfare
against her Spanish master, yet has COM
plete spiritual guidance OF the Cuban
women and a goodly majority OF the
men.
Nearer the church the farther from
God" is a skeptical old Cuban adage
Pity the poor HavaHese Il It be true, for
almost every square in la Capital has
some kind Of chrr~l The Holy Week
services reach their intensity at 10 o'clock
Thursday morning and continue unabat-
ed until the same hour Saturday morn
Ing. All labor ceases, vehicles and horse
men are not seen. the shops are closed.
and streets practically deserted. The
populace generally. male and female
alike, are mostly clothed in solemn black
The former famous Cuban "Antiouas
Procesiones" (aniqUe processiOns) are
partly modified since the Spanish-Amer-
ican war and establishment OF religious
freedom in the island. Yet there remain
some very ancient and peculiarly Cuban
religious customs.
In the older parts Of Havana the stran-
4 L. IL
Friday morning by curious sounds IN the
closed houses along the narrow streets.
The devout residents within are pound
ing upon the marble floors. boards, and
walls in medieval expression OF their
grief for the death Of our Saviour on
Calvary. The church bells are silent: the
only noise heard is the constant drum
ming, drumming OF the faithful through
out the day. Early in evening the most
impressive religious scene 20 be wit
messed IN Spanish America begins, the
grand procession Of the Virgin.
This startling ceremony. somewhat
modified in recent years. yet retains
much of its original grotesqueness A
motley band of weird. grewsome music
leads: q stalwart youth follows carrying
large silver and gilt wooden box hold
ing a big stone. which he rettles vigor-
OuSly. curious perSOnincatlOn of PLATE
follows with some attempt at Roman
official attire. helmet. and sword. Judas
follows. carrying what appears 70 be a
red and white striped pole and box sup
posed 10 contain thirty pieces OF silver
Bearers Of the cross, nails, hammer. and
other instruments 10 complete the repre-
sentation OF the tragedy on Calvary fol-
low The figure Of the Saviour, surround
ed by tall lit candles. Is borne upon a
bier beneath a canopy OF purple and
gold. Priests walk before it chanting in
monotones and the band. rendering a
most painful dirge. follows.
Throngs line the streets and fall IN at
tbs rear bearing lighted candles in their
hands. A gold and silver foil catafalque
borne by six or more stalwart men con-
tails the erect figure OF the Virgin. her
hand upon her heart. The Saturday
hanging OF Judas. though somewhat
abated. Is yet participated in by the Gu
ban men and youth TO the accompani-
ment OF hrecrackers, passe eggs. stuffed
clubs. stones, explosives, and pistol shots
The scores OF figures are paraded and
dragged through La Capitals'' streets
!or several hours OF early Saturday
morning. The throng OF lookers-on cast
curses upon Judas. who is usually a
straw efhgy covered with old clothes re-
sembling somewhat our field scarecrows
The figure is set upon By the religiously-